Engineered polypeptides having enhanced duration of action and reduced immunogenicity

ABSTRACT

Compounds are provided having inter alia good duration of action, high potency and/or convenient dosing regimens including once weekly administration. The compounds are engineered polypeptides which incorporate an albumin binding domain in combination with one or more biologically active polypeptides. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment for diseases and disorders including lipodystrophy, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, overweight, obesity, hypothalamic amenorrhea, Alzheimer&#39;s disease, leptin deficiency, fatty liver disease or diabetes (including type I and type II). Additional diseases and disorders which can be treated by the compounds and methods described herein include nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), metabolic syndrome X and Huntington&#39;s Disease.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/129,793, filed Dec. 27, 2013, which is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US2012/045398, filed Jul. 3, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61/506,001, filed Jul. 8, 2011 and 61/540,422 filed Sep. 28, 2011; the contents of each of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has been submitted in ASCII format via EFS-Web and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Jul. 3, 2012, is named 1320USPR.txt and is 450,377 bytes in size.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to compounds having good duration of action, high potency and/or convenient dosing regimens, and method of use thereof. There are provided herein engineered polypeptides which incorporate an albumin binding domain in combination with a biologically active peptide. Without wishing to be bound by any theory, it is believed that because the engineered polypeptides described herein can bind albumin, the compounds can be sequestered (e.g., bound to albumin) while in the circulation leading to increased duration of action, due for example to decreased renal clearance and/or degradation. Diseases amenable to such treatment include lipodystrophy, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, overweight, obesity, hypothalamic amenorrhea, Alzheimer's disease, leptin deficiency, fatty liver disease, diabetes (including type I and type II), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), metabolic syndrome X and Huntington's Disease, or combinations thereof.

There remains a need to develop polypeptides useful in the above described metabolic diseases, conditions and disorders. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide engineered polypeptides with extended half-lives useful to treat the above conditions and methods for producing and using them.

Each patent, patent application, and publication cited herein is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There are provided engineered polypeptide compounds having binding affinity for albumin and an additional therapeutic utility. The compounds are engineered polypeptides which include an albumin binding domain (ABD) polypeptide capable of binding albumin and a hormone domain (HD) polypeptide, which HD polypeptides can be biologically active and can elicit a beneficial biological response, in covalent linkage with the ABD. Any of the ABD or HD polypeptides described herein can be optionally covalently bonded in the engineered polypeptide through a linker L, for example L1 as described herein. Without wishing to be bound by any theory, it is believed that because the engineered polypeptides described herein can bind albumin, the compounds can be sequestered in a subject leading to increased duration of action in the subject.

In a first aspect, there is provided an engineered polypeptide as described herein. The engineered polypeptide includes an albumin binding domain polypeptide (ABD) and a hormone domain (HD1). The hormone domain includes a polypeptide which is a leptin, an analog of a leptin or an active fragment thereof.

In another aspect, there is provided a method for treating a disease or disorder in a subject in need of treatment. The method includes administering an engineered polypeptide as described herein to the subject.

In yet another aspect, there is provided a pharmaceutical composition which includes an engineered polypeptide compound described herein in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

In yet another aspect are polynucleotides encoding the engineered polypeptide and their intermediates, expression vectors bearing such polynucleotides, host cells expressing such polynucleotides, and means for their expression, synthesis, post-translational modification and isolation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A through FIG. 1H are listings of the amino acid sequences of examples of albumin binding polypeptides (SEQ ID NO:301-452, SEQ ID NO:454-463, SEQ ID NO:500-593) useful in the engineered polypeptides disclosed herein, the GA3 domain from protein G of Streptococcus strain G148 (SEQ ID NO:453) extended by a N-terminal glycine residue and an albumin binding polypeptide derived from G148-GA3 as previously described by Jonsson et al. (Protein Eng. Design & Selection, 2008, 21:515-527; SEQ ID NO:454).

FIG. 2 shows the result of binding analysis performed in a Biacore instrument for investigating the binding of the albumin binding polypeptide PEP07912 (SEQ ID NO: 456) to human serum albumin. Three different concentrations of purified protein (40 nM, fat gray line; 10 nM, black line; and 2.5 nM, gray line) were injected over a surface with 955 RU of immobilized human serum albumin.

FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C show the result of binding analysis performed by ELISA for investigating the binding of the albumin binding polypeptides PEP07913 (SEQ ID NO:453), PEP06923 (SEQ ID NO:454), PEP07271 (SEQ ID NO:455), PEP07912 (SEQ ID NO:457), PEP07554 (SEQ ID NO:456), PEP07914 (SEQ ID NO:458), PEP07968 (i.e. DOTA conjugated to PEP07911 (SEQ ID NO:459)) and PEP07844 (SEQ ID NO:461), to IgG molecules present in 126 individual normal human sera, where FIG. 3A shows the average OD-value, FIG. 3B shows the percentage of negative sera (defined as OD<0.15), and FIG. 3C shows the percentage of positive sera (defined as OD>1.0).

FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C are diagrams showing an immunogenicity assessment of albumin binding polypeptides PEP07913 (SEQ ID NO:453), PEP07912 (SEQ ID NO:457), PEP07914 (SEQ ID NO:458) and PEP07968 (i.e. DOTA conjugated to PEP07911 (SEQ ID NO:459)) in a CD3+ CD4+ T cell proliferation assay. FIG. 4A shows the number of individuals responding to the albumin binding polypeptides compared to recombinant human albumin in a cohort of 52 Caucasian donors. FIG. 4B shows the average stimulation indices (SI) for PEP07913, PEP07912, PEP07914 and PEP07968 compared to the negative control containing recombinant human albumin. FIG. 4C shows the number of responding individuals against all proteins in the study as compared to the buffer control.

FIG. 5 depicts the leptin functional activity generated by Compound 2 in the presence of albumin, as described in Example 7.

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B depict the effects of a single administration of the indicated engineered polypeptides described herein on food intake and change in body weight (% vehicle-corrected) upon administration to rats as described in Example 8. FIG. 6A: food intake. FIG. 6B: change in body weight (% vehicle-corrected).

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B depict the effects of a single administration of the indicated engineered polypeptides described herein on food intake and change in body weight (% vehicle-corrected) upon administration to rats as described in Example 9. FIG. 7A: food intake. FIG. 7B: change in body weight (% vehicle-corrected).

FIG. 8 depict the effects of a single administration of the indicated engineered polypeptides described herein on change in body weight (% vehicle-corrected) upon administration to rats as described in Example 10.

FIG. 9 depicts the effects of a single administration of the indicated engineered polypeptides described herein on change in body weight (% vehicle-corrected) upon administration to rats as described in Example 11.

FIG. 10 is a graph depicting the effect on body weight of administration of leptin (125 μg/kg/day) and amylin (1500 μg/kg/day), either alone or in combination, in two groups of rats: one group of very obese rats and another group that was calorie restricted down to the range of moderate obesity.

FIG. 11 is a graph depicting an effect on body weight of administration of Compound 64 (120 nmol/kg) and PEG-rat amylin (Des-Lys1-[Lys26(mPEG40K)]-Rat Amylin (SEQ ID NO: 148) (125 nmol/kg), either alone or in combination over four weeks.

FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B depict the effects of the indicated engineered polypeptides described herein on blood glucose upon administration to STZ-induced T1DM mice as described in Example 16.

FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B depict the effects of the indicated engineered polypeptides described herein on Hemoglobin A1C upon administration to STZ-induced T1DM mice as described in Example 16.

FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B depict the effects of the indicated engineered polypeptides described herein on food intake and body weight upon administration to STZ-induced T1DM mice as described in Example 16.

FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B depict the effects of the indicated engineered polypeptides described herein, with and without a low dose of insulin, on blood glucose upon administration to STZ-induced T1DM mice as described in Example 16.

FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B depict the effects of the indicated engineered polypeptides described herein, with and without a low dose of insulin, on Hemoglobin A1C upon administration to STZ-induced T1DM mice as described in Example 16.

FIG. 17A and FIG. 17B depict the effects of the indicated engineered polypeptides described herein, with and without a low dose of insulin, on food intake (% vehicle-corrected) and change in body weight (% vehicle-corrected) upon administration to STZ-induced T1DM mice as described in Example 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

I. Definitions

“Obesity” and “overweight” refer to mammals having a weight greater than normally expected, and may be determined by, e.g., physical appearance, body mass index (BMI) as known in the art, waist-to-hip circumference ratios, skinfold thickness, waist circumference, and the like. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define overweight as an adult human having a BMI of 25 to 29.9; and define obese as an adult human having a BMI of 30 or higher. Additional metrics for the determination of obesity exist. For example, the CDC states that a person with a waist-to-hip ratio greater than 1.0 is overweight.

“Lean body mass” refers to the fat-free mass of the body, i.e., total body weight minus body fat weight is lean body mass. Lean body mass can be measured by methods such as hydrostatic weighing, computerized chambers, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, skin calipers, magnetic resonance imaging (MM) and bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) as known in the art.

“Mammal” refers to warm-blooded animals that generally have fur or hair, that give live birth to their progeny, and that feed their progeny with milk. Mammals include humans; companion animals (e.g., dogs, cats); farm animals (e.g., cows, horses, sheep, pigs, goats); wild animals; and the like. In one embodiment, the mammal is a female. In one embodiment, the mammal is a female human. In one embodiment, the mammal is a cat or dog. In one embodiment, the mammal is a diabetic mammal, e.g., a human having type 2 diabetes. In one embodiment, the mammal is an obese diabetic mammal, e.g., an obese mammal having type 2 diabetes. The term “subject” in the context of methods described herein refers to a mammal.

“Fragment” in the context of polypeptides refers herein in the customary chemical sense to a portion of a polypeptide. For example, a fragment can result from N-terminal deletion or C-terminal deletion of one or more residues of a parent polypeptide, and/or a fragment can result from internal deletion of one or more residues of a parent polypeptide. “Fragment” in the context of an antibody refers to a portion of an antibody which can be linked to a biologically active molecule to modulate solubility, distribution within a subject, and the like. For example, leptin A200 described herein is a conjugate of an Fc antibody fragment with a leptin, as known in the art. See e.g. WO 98/28427 and US2007/002084. The term “parent” in the context of polypeptides refers, in the customary sense, to a polypeptide which serves as a reference structure prior to modification, e.g., insertion, deletion and/or substitution. The term “conjugate” in the context of engineered polypeptides described herein refers to covalent linkage between component polypeptides, e.g., ABD, HD1 and the like. The term “fusion” in the context of engineered polypeptides described herein refers to covalent linkage between component polypeptides, e.g., ABD, HD1 and the like, via either or both terminal amino or carboxy functional group of the peptide backbone. Engineered polypeptides can be synthetically or recombinantly made. Typically, fusions are made using recombinant biotechnology, however, can also be made by chemical synthesis and conjugation methods known in the art.

“Analog” as used herein in the context of polypeptides refers to a compound that has insertions, deletions and/or substitutions of amino acids relative to a parent compound. An analog may have superior stability, solubility, efficacy, half-life, and the like. In some embodiments, an analog is a compound having at least 50%, for example 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, or even higher, sequence identity to the parent compound.

“Identity,” “sequence identity” and the like in the context of comparing two or more nucleic acids or polypeptide sequences, refer to two or more sequences or subsequences that are the same or have a specified percentage of amino acid residues or nucleotides that are the same (i.e., about 50% identity, preferably 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or higher identity over a specified region, when compared and aligned for maximum correspondence over a comparison window or designated region) as measured using a sequence comparison algorithms as known in the art, for example BLAST or BLAST 2.0. This definition includes sequences that have deletions and/or additions, as well as those that have substitutions, as well as naturally occurring, e.g., polymorphic or allelic variants, and man-made variants. In preferred algorithms, account is made for gaps and the like, as known in the art. For sequence comparison, typically one sequence acts as a reference sequence, to which test sequences are compared. When using a sequence comparison algorithm, test and reference sequences are entered into a computer, subsequence coordinates are designated if necessary, and sequence algorithm program parameters are designated. Preferably, default program parameters can be used, or alternative parameters can be designated. The sequence comparison algorithm then calculates the percent sequence identities for the test sequences relative to the reference sequence, based on the program parameters. Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison can be conducted, e.g., by the local homology algorithm of Smith & Waterman, 1981, Adv. Appl. Math. 2:482, by the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman & Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol. Biol. 48:443, by the search for similarity method of Pearson & Lipman, 1988, Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA 85:2444, by computerized implementations of these algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Dr., Madison, Wis.), or by manual alignment and visual inspection. See e.g., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (Ausubel et al., eds. 1995 supplement)). Preferred examples of algorithms that are suitable for determining percent sequence identity and sequence similarity include the BLAST and BLAST 2.0 algorithms, which are described in Altschul et al., 1977, Nuci. Acids Res. 25:3389-3402 and Altschul et al., 1990, J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410. BLAST and BLAST 2.0 are used, as known in the art, to determine percent sequence identity for the nucleic acids and proteins of the invention. Software for performing BLAST analyses is publicly available through the web site of the National Center for Biotechnology Information. This algorithm involves first identifying high scoring sequence pairs (HSPs) by identifying short words of length W in the query sequence, which either match or satisfy some positive-valued threshold score T when aligned with a word of the same length in a database sequence. T is referred to as the neighborhood word score threshold (Altschul et al., Id.). These initial neighborhood word hits act as seeds for initiating searches to find longer HSPs containing them. The word hits are extended in both directions along each sequence for as far as the cumulative alignment score can be increased. Cumulative scores are calculated using, e.g., for nucleotide sequences, the parameters M (reward score for a pair of matching residues; always>0) and N (penalty score for mismatching residues; always<0). For amino acid sequences, a scoring matrix is used to calculate the cumulative score. Extension of the word hits in each direction are halted when: the cumulative alignment score falls off by the quantity X from its maximum achieved value; the cumulative score goes to zero or below, due to the accumulation of one or more negative-scoring residue alignments; or the end of either sequence is reached. The BLAST algorithm parameters W, T, and X determine the sensitivity and speed of the alignment. The BLASTN program (for nucleotide sequences) uses as defaults a wordlength (W) of 11, an expectation (E) of 10, M=5, N=−4 and a comparison of both strands. For amino acid sequences, the BLASTP program uses as defaults a wordlength of 3, and expectation (E) of 10, and the BLOSUM62 scoring matrix (see Henikoff & Henikoff, 1989, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915) alignments (B) of 50, expectation (E) of 10, M=5, N=−4, and a comparison of both strands.

The term “about” in the context of a numeric value refers to +/−10% of the numeric value, unless expressly indicated otherwise.

The terms “peptide” and “polypeptide” in the context of components of the engineered polypeptides described herein are synonymous.

II. Compounds

In a first aspect, engineered polypeptide compounds are provided which include an albumin binding domain (ABD) polypeptide and at least one polypeptide hormone domain (HD1). The terms “albumin binding domain,” “ABD” and the like refer to polypeptides capable of binding albumin as described herein. The terms “hormone domain,” “hormone domain polypeptide” and the like refer to a polypeptide capable of eliciting a biological response in a subject. Exemplary hormone domains include, but are not limited to, a leptin, an analog of a leptin or an active fragment thereof, but could be a leptin derivative such as a PEGylated derivative.

It was surprisingly found that a leptin, a leptin analog, a active leptin fragment, or a leptin derivative thereof can be fused to an very-high-affinity albumin binding domain (ABD) derived from the albumin-binding domains of bacterial proteins as described herein, while retaining sufficient leptin biological activity and having an extended duration of action, for example of at least 3 days and even 5 days in a rodent, which translates to at least a one week duration or longer in a human subject. This was surprising in part because such ABD peptides have not been extensively demonstrated to be a robust platform as a therapeutic protein carrier, they are relatively hydrophobic which could interact adversely with an attached therapeutic peptide, and were not able to act as a carrier for at least one family of peptide hormones. For instance, rat amylin compounds (e.g., SEQ ID NO:108), when conjugated or fused to the ABDs described herein, did not display any significant or long-acting in vivo activity in the same rodent models in which various leptin engineered polypeptide constructs of the invention were found to be active and with long duration of action.

Furthermore, the therapeutic conjugate or fusion compounds herein surprisingly have retained albumin binding affinity and specificity while having lower immunogenicity and leptin therapeutic activity. The compounds are surprisingly active despite the absence of a plasma-protease cleavage site between the leptin, leptin analog, active leptin fragment, or leptin derivative and the ABD. Further surprising, the therapeutic compounds are believed active even when bound to albumin. The ABD compounds described herein provide albumin binding affinity and specificity while having lower immunogenicity than previously described ABD compounds, which were based on the albumin binding region of Streptococcal protein G strain 148 (G148) and in Jonsson et al. (Protein Eng. Design & Selection, 2008, 21:515-527). Recently, a few T- and B-cell epitopes were experimentally identified within the albumin binding region of Streptococcal protein G strain 148 (G148) (Goetsch et al., Clin. Diagn. Lab. Immunol. 10:125-32, 2003). The authors were interested in utilizing the T-cell epitopes of G148 in vaccines, i.e. to utilize the inherent immune-stimulatory property of the albumin binding region. Goetsch et al. additionally found a B-cell epitope, i.e. a region bound by antibodies after immunization, in the sequence of G148. In pharmaceutical compositions for human administration no immune-response is desired. Therefore, the albumin binding domain G148 is as such not preferred for use in such compositions due to its abovementioned immune-stimulatory properties.

Biologically Active Components. Biologically active compound components contemplated for use in the compounds and methods described herein include leptins. The terms “biologically active compound” and the like refer in the customary sense to compounds, e.g., polypeptides and the like, which can elicit a biological response.

Leptins. “Leptins” and “a leptin” means: leptins, leptin active fragments, leptin analogs, and leptin derivatives; and a leptin, a leptin active fragment, a leptin analog, and a leptin derivative; respectively. Accordingly, unless otherwise noted, reference to “leptins” is meant to encompass leptins, leptin active fragments, leptin analogs, and leptin derivatives, as disclosed herein. Similarly, unless otherwise noted, reference to “a leptin” is meant to encompass a leptin, a leptin active fragment, a leptin analog, and a leptin derivative, as disclosed herein. Exemplary such leptins which may be employed in the design, preparation, and use of the engineered polypeptides disclosed herein include those which elicit one or more biological responses known in the art to be elicited when leptins are administered to subjects (see, e.g., published U.S. patent application Nos. US 2007/0020284 and US 2008/0207512, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,309,853, and 7,183,254, and PCT Published Application Nos. WO 96/005309, WO 98/28427, and WO 2009/064298), such as: reduction of food intake, reduction of body weight, reduction of body weight gain, induction of satiety, reduction of caloric availability, reduction of caloric efficiency, reduction of metabolic plateau, increase in insulin sensitivity, reduction of hyperlipidemia, correction of dyslipidemia, reduction of hypertriglyceridemia, amelioration of obesity, amelioration of overweight, amelioration of diabetes mellitus (including type I diabetes, type II diabetes, and gestational diabetes), amelioration of insulin resistance, amelioration of lipodystrophy conditions associated therewith, as well as other biological responses known in the art to be elicited upon administration of a leptin (see, e.g., published U.S. Patent Application Nos. US 2007/0020284 and US 2008/0207512, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,309,853, and 7,183,254, and PCT Published Application Nos. WO 96/005309, WO 98/28427, and WO 2009/064298.

Exemplary leptins suitable for the design, preparation, and use of the engineered polypeptides described herein include, but are not limited to, the compounds described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,594,101, 5,851,995, 5,691,309, 5,580,954, 5,554,727, 5,552,523, 5,559,208, 5,756,461, 6,309,853, published U.S. Patent application No. US 2007/0020284, and PCT Published Application Nos. WO 96/23517, WO 96/005309, WO 98/28427, WO 2004/039832, WO 98/55139, WO 98/12224, and WO 97/02004, each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety and for all purposes. Methods to assay for leptin activities and biological responses in vitro and in vivo, including satiety, food intake inhibition activity and weight loss activity, are known in the art and are described herein and also in the above references and other references recited herein.

Any leptin, leptin analog, leptin active fragment, or leptin derivative known in the art may be employed in order to prepare and use engineered polypeptides as disclosed herein throughout. Representative leptins, leptin analogs, leptin active fragments, and leptin derivatives contemplated for use in the engineered polypeptides and methods described herein also include the following:

Mature Murine Leptins:

(SEQ ID NO: 1) VPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHT-Xaa-SVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLH PILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSC HLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLQQLDLSP GC, wherein Xaa at position 28 is Q or absent.

Mature Murine Leptin Form 1:

(SEQ ID NO: 143) VPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSAKQRVTGLDFIPGLHPILS LSKMDQTLAVYQQVLTSLPSQNVLQIANDLENLRDLLHLLAFSKSCSLPQ TSGLQKPESLDGVLEASLYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDILQQLDVSPEC.

Mature Murine Leptin Form 2:

(SEQ ID NO: 144) VPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTSVSAKQRVTGLDFIPGLHPILSL SKMDQTLAVYQQVLTSLPSQNVLQIANDLENLRDLLHLLAFSKSCSLPQT SGLQKPESLDGVLEASLYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDILQQLDVSPEC.

Mature Murine Leptins with N-Terminal Methionine:

(SEQ ID NO: 2) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHT-Xaa-SVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGL HPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKS CHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLQQLDLSP GC, wherein Xaa at position 29 is Q or absent.

Mature Murine Leptin Form 1 with N-Terminal Methionine:

(SEQ ID NO: 145) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSAKQRVTGLDFIPGLHPIL SLSKMDQTLAVYQQVLTSLPSQNVLQIANDLENLRDLLHLLAFSKSCSLP QTSGLQKPESLDGVLEASLYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDILQQLDVSPEC.

Mature Murine Leptin Form 2 with N-Terminal Methionine:

(SEQ ID NO: 146) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTSVSAKQRVTGLDFIPGLHPILS LSKMDQTLAVYQQVLTSLPSQNVLQIANDLENLRDLLHLLAFSKSCSLPQ TSGLQKPESLDGVLEASLYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDILQQLDVSPEC.

Mature Porcine Leptin:

(SEQ ID NO: 3) VPIWRVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRISDISHMQSVSSKQRVTGLDFIPGLHPVLS LSKMDQTLAIYQQILTSLPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHLLASSKSCPLPQ ARALETLESLGGVLEASLYSTEVVALSRLQGALQDMLRQLDLSPGC.

Mature Porcine Leptin with N-Terminal Methionine:

(SEQ ID NO: 4) MVPIWRVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRISDISHMQSVSSKQRVTGLDFIPGLHPVL SLSKMDQTLAIYQQILTSLPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHLLASSKSCPLP QARALETLESLGGVLEASLYSTEVVALSRLQGALQDMLRQLDLSPGC.

Mature Bovine Leptins:

(SEQ ID NO: 5) VPICKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHT-Xaa-SVSSKQRVTGLDFIPGLH PLLSLSKMDQTLAIYQQILTSLPSRNVVQISNDLENLRDLLHLLAASKSC PLPQVRALESLESLGVVLEASLYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLRQLDLSPG C, wherein Xaa at position 28 is Q or absent.

Mature Bovine Leptins with N-Terminal Methionine:

(SEQ ID NO: 6) MVPICKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHT-Xaa-SVSSKQRVTGLDFIPGL HPLLSLSKMDQTLAIYQQILTSLPSRNVVQISNDLENLRDLLHLLAASKS CPLPQVRALESLESLGVVLEASLYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLRQLDLSPG C, wherein Xaa at position 29 is Q or absent.

Unprocessed Full-Length Human Leptin (i.e., Includes 21-Residue N-Terminal Signal Sequence):

(SEQ ID NO: 7) MHWGTLCGFLWLWPYLFYVQAVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQS VSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISND LENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPWASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRL QGSLQDMLWQLDLSPGC

Mature Human Leptins (with N-Terminal 21 Amino Acid Signal Sequence Removed):

(SEQ ID NO: 8) VPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISH-Xaa-Xaa-SVSSKQKVTGLDFIP GLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPWASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLS PGC, wherein: Xaa at position 27 is T or A; and Xa aat position 28 is Q or absent.

Mature Human Leptins with N-Terminal Methionine:

(SEQ ID NO: 9) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISH-Xaa-Xaa-SVSSKQKVTGLDFI PGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAF SKSCHLPWASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDL SPGC, wherein: Xaa at position 28 is T or A; andXa a at position 29 is Q or absent.

Mature Rhesus Leptin:

(SEQ ID NO: 10) VPIQKVQSDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQRVTGLDFIPGLHPVLT LSQMDQTLAIYQQILINLPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHLLAFSKSCHLPL ASGLETLESLGDVLEASLYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLSPGC.

Mature Rhesus Leptin with N-Terminal Methionine:

(SEQ ID NO: 11) MVPIQKVQSDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQRVTGLDFIPGLHPVL TLSQMDQTLAIYQQILINLPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHLLAFSKSCHLP LASGLETLESLGDVLEASLYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLSPGC.

Mature Rat Leptin:

(SEQ ID NO: 12) VPIHKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSARQRVTGLDFIPGLHPILS LSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSLPSQNVLQIAHDLENLRDLLHLLAFSKSCSLPQ TRGLQKPESLDGVLEASLYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDILQQLDLSPEC.

Mature Rat Leptin with N-Terminal Methionine:

(SEQ ID NO: 13) MVPIHKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSARQRVTGLDFIPGLHPIL SLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSLPSQNVLQIAHDLENLRDLLHLLAFSKSCSLP QTRGLQKPESLDGVLEASLYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDILQQLDLSPEC.

Mature Platypus Leptin: The Mature Platypus Leptin Sequence Follows:

ISIEKIQADTKTLTKTIITRIIQLSTQNGVSTDQRVSGLDFIPGNQQFQN LADMDQTLAVYQQILSSLPMPDRTQISNDLENLRSLFALLATLKNCPFTR SDGLDTMEIWGGIVEESLYSTEVVTLDRLRKSLKNIEKQLDHIQG.

Unprocessed Full-Length Platypus Leptin (i.e., Includes 21-Residue N-Terminal Signal Sequence):

A full length sequence of platypus leptin, including a 21-residue N-terminal signal sequence follows:

(SEQ ID NO: 15) MRCILLYGFLCVWQHLYYSHPISIEKIQADTKTLTKTIITRIIQLSTQNG VSTDQRVSGLDFIPGNQQFQNLADMDQTLAVYQQILSSLPMPDRTQISND LENLRSLFALLATLKNCPFTRSDGLDTMEIWGGIVEESLYSTEVVTLDRL RKSLKNIEKQLDHIQG.

Mature Human Leptin Form 1:

(SEQ ID NO: 16) VPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILT LSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPW ASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLSPGC.

Mature Human Leptin Form 2:

(SEQ ID NO: 17) VPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHAQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILT LSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPW ASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLSPGC.

Mature Human Leptin Form 3:

(SEQ ID NO: 18) VPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILTL SKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPWA SGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLSPGC.

Mature Human Leptin Form 4:

(SEQ ID NO: 19) VPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHASVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILTL SKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPWA SGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLSPGC.

Mature Human Leptin Form 1 with N-Terminal Methionine (Also Known as Metreleptin, or A100):

(SEQ ID NO: 20) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLP WASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLSPGC.

Mature Human Leptin Form 2 with N-Terminal Methionine:

(SEQ ID NO: 21) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHAQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLP WASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLSPGC.

Mature Human Leptin Form 3 with N-Terminal Methionine:

(SEQ ID NO: 22) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILT LSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPW ASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLSPGC.

Mature Human Leptin Form 4 with N-Terminal Methionine:

(SEQ ID NO: 23) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHASVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILT LSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPW ASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLSPGC.

Seal Leptin:

(SEQ ID NO: 24) PIQRVQDDTKTLIKTIITRINDISPPQGVCSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRTL SGMDQILATYQQILTSLQSRSVVQIANDLANLRALLRLLASAKSCPVPRA RGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQDMLRQLDRNPGC.

Seal Leptin with Amino Acids 71-92 Replaced with Amino Acids 73-94 (Helix 3) of Metreleptin, Respectively:

(SEQ ID NO: 25) PIQRVQDDTKTLIKTIITRINDISPPQGVCSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRTL SGMDQILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCPVPRA RGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQDMLRQLDRNPGC.

Seal Leptin with Amino Acids 30 and 71-92 Replaced with Amino Acids 32 and 73-94 (Helix 3) of Metreleptin, Respectively:

(SEQ ID NO: 26) PIQRVQDDTKTLIKTIITRINDISPPQGVSSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRTL SGMDQILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCPVPRA RGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQDMLRQLDRNPGC.

Seal Leptin with N-Terminal Methionine:

(SEQ ID NO: 27) MPIQRVQDDTKTLIKTIITRINDISPPQGVCSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRT LSGMDQILATYQQILTSLQSRSVVQIANDLANLRALLRLLASAKSCPVPR ARGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQDMLRQLDRNPGC.

Seal Leptin with N-Terminal Methionine, and with Amino Acids 71-92 Replaced with Amino Acids 73-94 (Helix 3) of Metreleptin, Respectively:

(SEQ ID NO: 28) MPIQRVQDDTKTLIKTIITRINDISPPQGVCSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRT LSGMDQILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCPVPR ARGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQDMLRQLDRNPGC.

Seal Leptin with N-Terminal Methionine, and with Amino Acids 30 and 71-92 Replaced with Amino Acids 32 and 73-94 (Helix 3) of Metreleptin, Respectively:

(SEQ ID NO: 29) MPIQRVQDDTKTLIKTIITRINDISPPQGVSSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRT LSGMDQILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCPVPR ARGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQDMLRQLDRNPGC.

Seal Leptin with Amino Acids 71-92 Replaced with Amino Acids 73-94 (Helix 3) of Metreleptin, and with Amino Acids 23-49 Replaced with Amino Acids 25-51 (AB Loop) of Metreleptin, Respectively:

(SEQ ID NO: 680) PIQRVQDDTKTLIKTIITRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILTL SGMDQILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCPVPRA RGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQDMLRQLDRNPGC.

Leptin A200: Leptin A200 is an Fc antibody fragment condensation product with leptin, as known in the art. See e.g., Lo et al., 2005, Protein Eng. Design & Selection, 18:1-10. The amino acid sequence of A200 is as follows:

(SEQ ID NO: 30) MDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHE DPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEY KCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLV KGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQ GNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGKVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRIN DISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMSRNV IQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPWASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEV VALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLSPGC.

Leptin A300: Leptin A300 is metreleptin with substitutions W101Q and W139Q (N-terminal ¹Met counted as residue 1):

(SEQ ID NO: 31) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLP QASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLQQLDLSPGC.

Leptin A400: Leptin A400 is metreleptin with the serine residue at position 78 replaced with a cysteine residue, as set forth following:

(SEQ ID NO: 32) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQICNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSC HLPWASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQL DLSPGC; to which a 20 kilodalton (kDa) PEG moiety has been attached via the cysteine residue at position 78.

Leptin A500: Research by a number of investigators including the inventors has focused on the effects on aggregation of residue substitution in leptin. See e.g., Ricci et al., 2006. “Mutational approach to improve physical stability of protein therapeutics susceptible to aggregation: Role of altered conformation in irreversible precipitation,” Book Chapter. In: MISBEHAVING PROTEINS: PROTEIN (MIS)FOLDING, AGGREGATION, AND STABILITY, Murphy R M, Tsai A M, Eds., New York. Springer. pp. 331-350, which is incorporated herein by reference and for all purposes. Accordingly, leptin A500 with sequence following has been used in certain compounds and methods described herein:

(SEQ ID NO: 33) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLP QASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLQQLDLSPGC.

Leptin A100 Variants: Variants of Leptin A100 with the following residue substitutions follow:

D41E, H98S, W101Q, D109E, G113E, M137I, W139Q and G146E: (SEQ ID NO: 664) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCSLP QASGLETLESLGEVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDILQQLDLSPEC. H98S, W101Q, A102T, G113E, M137I, W139Q, and G146E: (SEQ ID NO: 665) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCSLP QASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDILQQLDLSPEC. H98S, W101Q, G113E, M137I, W139Q, and G146E: (SEQ ID NO: 666) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCSLP QASGLETLDSLGEVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDILQQLDLSPEC. W101Q, G113E, M137I, W139Q, and G146E: (SEQ ID NO: 667) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLP QASGLETLDSLGEVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDILQQLDLSPEC. H98S, W101Q, M137I, W139Q, and G146E: (SEQ ID NO: 668) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCSLP QASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDILQQLDLSPEC. W101Q, G113E, M137I, W139Q, L143V, and G146E: (SEQ ID NO: 669) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCSLP QASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDILQQLDVSPEC. H98S, W101Q, A102T, M137I, W139Q, and G146E: (SEQ ID NO: 670) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCSLP QTSGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDILQQLDLSPEC. H98S, W101Q, D109E, G13E, and G146E: (SEQ ID NO: 671) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCSLP QASGLETLESLGEVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLSPEC. W101Q, M137I, W139Q, and G146E: (SEQ ID NO: 672) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLP QASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDILQQLDLSPEC. W101Q, M137I, W139Q, L143V, and G146E: (SEQ ID NO: 673) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLP QASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDILQQLDVSPEC. H98S, W101Q, A102T, M137I, W139Q, L143V, and G146E: (SEQ ID NO: 674) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCSLP QTSGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDILQQLDVSPEC. H98S, W101Q, A102T, G113E, and G146E: (SEQ ID NO: 675) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCSLP QTSGLETLDSLGEVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLSPEC. W101Q, G113E, and W139Q: (SEQ ID NO: 676) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLP QASGLETLDSLGEVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLQQLDLSPGC. W101Q, G113E, W139Q, and G146E: (SEQ ID NO: 677) MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLP QASGLETLDSLGEVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLQQLDLSPEC.

Any of the above leptins, leptin analogs or their active fragments, as well as leptins as described below, are suitable for use in the present engineered polypeptides, with or without a linker to the ABD.

Albumin Binding Domain (ABD) Peptides. For previously disclosed albumin binding domains derived from Streptococcal protein G strain 148 (G148) and for some variants having a high affinity to albumin, e.g. WO09/016043, the higher affinity was achieved at the cost of reduced thermal stability. In addition, it has been reported that T- and B-cell epitopes were experimentally identified within the albumin binding region of G148 (Goetsch et al., Clin Diagn Lab Immunol, 10:125-32, 2003). The authors behind the study were interested in utilizing the T-cell epitopes of G148 in vaccines, i.e. to utilize the inherent immune-stimulatory property of the albumin binding region. Goetsch et al. additionally found a B-cell epitope, i.e. a region bound by antibodies after immunization, in the sequence of G148. Therefore, the albumin binding domain G148 and polypeptides derived from G148, and thus fusion/conjugates containing them, risk the abovementioned immune-stimulatory properties. In pharmaceutical compositions for human administration no (or reduced) immune-response is desired.

The above drawbacks and deficiencies of such fusions and/or conjugates are overcome or reduced by the use of the albumin binding domain (ABD) peptides disclosed herein for use in the engineered polypeptides of the invention. Accordingly, in one embodiment the albumin binding domain polypeptide comprising the long-duration engineered polypeptide conjugate or fusion described herein is a three-helix bundle protein domain, which comprises an albumin binding motif and additional sequences comprising the three-helix configuration. Such ABDs are those with comparably high affinity for albumin and derive from albumin-binding domains of bacterial protein G of Streptococcus strain G148, yet are modified as described herein to further provide desirable immunological properties, e.g. reduced immunogenicity. Such ABDs are described in PCT Published Appl. No. WO 2012/004384, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes. As such, ABD peptides contemplated for the engineered polypeptides described herein are superior to those having the albumin binding sequence as described by Jonsson et al. (Protein Eng. Design & Selection, 2008, 21:515-527), and those ABD peptides further described in PCT Published Appl. No. WO2009/016043. To the albumin binding domain polypeptide described herein is fused a leptin or analog or active fragment thereof to create the engineered polypeptide described herein. An albumin binding domain polypeptide suitable for conjugation or fusion to a leptin compound can comprise the ABD amino acid sequence which comprises the sequence selected from:

formula (i) (SEQ ID NO: 300) LA X3 AK X6 X7 AN X10 ELD X14 YGVSDF YKRLI X26 KAKT VEGVEALK X39 X40 IL X43 X44 LP

-   wherein independently of each other -   X3 is selected from E, S, Q and C; -   X6 is selected from E, S and C; -   X7 is selected from A and S; -   X10 is selected from A, S and R; -   X14 is selected from A, S, C and K; -   X26 is selected from D and E; -   X39 is selected from D and E; X40 is selected from A and E; -   X43 is selected from A and K; -   X44 is selected from A, S and E; -   the leucine at position 45 is present or absent; and -   the proline at position 46 is present or absent; and

formula (ii) an amino acid sequence which has at least 95% identity to the sequence defined in (i),

with the proviso that X₇ is not L, E or D;

or alternatively,

with the proviso that the amino acid sequence is not defined by the following sequence, as defined in PCT Published Application No. WO 2009/016043: LAEAK X_(a) X_(b) A X_(c) X_(d) EL X_(e) KY GVSD X₅ YK X₈ X₉ I X₁₁ X₁₂ A X₁₄ TVEGV X₂₀ AL X₂₃ X₂₄ X₂₅ ILAALP (SEQ ID NO: 679)

wherein

independently of each other,

X_(a) is selected from V and E;

X_(b) is selected from L, E and D;

X_(c) is selected from N, L and I;

X_(d) is selected from R and K;

X_(e) is selected from D and K; and

X₅ is selected from Y and F;

X₈ is selected from N, R and S;

X₉ is selected from V, I, L, M, F and Y;

X₁₁ is selected from N, S, E and D;

X₁₂ is selected from R, K and N;

X₁₄ is selected from K and R;

X₂₀ is selected from D, N, Q, E, H, S, R and K;

X₂₃ is selected from K, I and T;

X₂₄ is selected from A, S, T, G, H, L and D; and

X₂₅ is selected from H, E and D.

In a further embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to the first aspect above—the formula (i) or (ii), X6 is E. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect, X3 is S. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect, X3 is E. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect, X7 is A. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect, X14 is S. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect, X14 is C In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect, X10 is A. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect, X10 is S. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect, X10 is R. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect, X26 is D. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect X39 is D. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect X39 is E. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect X40 is A. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect X43 is A. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect X44 is A. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect X44 is S. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect the leucine at position 45 is present or absent. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect proline at position 46 is absent.

In a further preferred embodiment albumin binding domain polypeptide suitable for conjugation or fusion to a leptin compound can comprise the ABD amino acid sequence selected from:

formula (iii) (SEQ ID NO: 678) LA X3 AK X6 X7 AN X10 ELD X14 YGVSDF YKRLIDKAKT VEGVEALKDA ILAALP

-   wherein independently of each other -   X3 is selected from E, S, Q and C; -   X6 is selected from E, S and C; -   X7 is selected from A and S; -   X10 is selected from A, S and R; -   X14 is selected from A, S, C and K; -   the leucine at position 45 is present or absent; and -   the proline at position 46 is present or absent; and -   formula (iv) an amino acid sequence which has at least 95% identity     to the sequence defined in (iii),

with the proviso that X₇ is not L, E or D;

or alternatively,

with the proviso that the amino acid sequence is not defined by the following sequence, as defined in PCT Published Application No. WO 2009/016043: LAEAK X_(a) X_(b) A X_(c) X_(d) EL X_(e) KY GVSD X₅ YK X₈ X₉ I X₁₁ X₁₂ A X₁₄ TVEGV X₂₀ AL X₂₃ X₂₄ X₂₅ ILAALP (SEQ ID NO: 679)

wherein

independently of each other,

-   X_(a) is selected from V and E; -   X_(b) is selected from L, E and D; -   X_(c) is selected from N, L and I; -   X_(d) is selected from R and K; -   X_(e) is selected from D and K; and -   X₅ is selected from Y and F; -   X₈ is selected from N, R and S; -   X₉ is selected from V, I, L, M, F and Y; -   X₁₁ is selected from N, S, E and D; -   X₁₂ is selected from R, K and N; -   X₁₄ is selected from K and R; -   X₂₀ is selected from D, N, Q, E, H, S, R and K; -   X₂₃ is selected from K, I and T; -   X₂₄ is selected from A, S, T, G, H, L and D; and -   X₂₅ is selected from H, E and D.

In a further embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect—formula (iii) or (iv), X6 is E. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect, X3 is S. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect, X3 is E. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect, X7 is A. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect, X14 is S. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect, X14 is C In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect, X10 is A. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect, X10 is S. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect, X10 is R. In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect the leucine at position 45 is present or absent. In a further embodiment the C-terminal proline is present. In a further embodiment the proline at is absent.

In a further embodiment of any one of the formulas (i) to (iv) the ABD comprises a one or more N-terminal helix-capping amino acids, and in a further embodiment the helix-capping amino acid may be serine, or may be glycine-serine. Accordingly for each albumin binding domain sequence disclosed herein, including those in the figures and sequenced listing, also specifically contemplated for all aspects as disclosed herein in the engineered polypeptide, are albumin binding domains corresponding to the ABD of any one of the formulas (i) to (iv) contained therein, their Ser-ABD, Gly-Ser-ABD, Gly-ABD, Ala-ABD and their des-C-terminal-proline sequences.

Thus, modified variants of (i) or (iii), which are such that the resulting sequence is at least 95% identical to a sequence belonging to the class defined by (i) or (iii), are also encompassed. For example, it is possible that an amino acid residue belonging to a certain functional grouping of amino acid residues (e.g. hydrophobic, hydrophilic, polar etc) could be exchanged for another amino acid residue from the same functional group.

The above defined class of sequence related ABD polypeptides having a binding affinity for albumin is derived from a common parent polypeptide sequence, which folds into a three alpha helix bundle domain. More specifically, the polypeptides as described above are derived from a model building based on a structure of a complex between serum albumin and the albumin binding domain G148-GA3 (Lejon et al., J. Biol. Chem. 279:42924-8, 2004), as well as analyses of binding and structural properties of a number of mutational variants of the common parent polypeptide sequence. The above defined amino acid sequence of any one of formulas (i) to (iv) comprises amino acid substitutions, as compared to the parent polypeptide sequence, that result in a class of polypeptides which are expected to fold into an almost identical three helix bundle domain. While the parent polypeptide sequence already comprises a binding surface for interaction with albumin, that binding surface is modified by some of the substitutions according to the above definition. The substitutions according to the above definition provide an improved albumin binding ability as compared to the parent polypeptide sequence. Importantly and surprisingly, the substitutions according to the above definition provide enhanced immunological properties, in addition to retaining and/or improving strong affinity for albumin.

Accordingly, the albumin binding polypeptides according to the first aspect of the disclosure exhibit a set of characteristics, which, for example, make them suitable for use as fusion or conjugate partners for therapeutic molecules for human administration. Importantly and surprisingly, the albumin binding polypeptides according to the present disclosure demonstrate, for example in comparison with related albumin binding polypeptides such as the albumin binding domain G148-GA3 and the albumin binding polypeptides disclosed in WO09/016043, at least five of the following six characteristics:

-   (1) The polypeptides display a different surface compared to, for     example, G148-GA3 and other bacterially derived albumin binding     domains. The difference may decrease or eliminate any risk for     antibody reactions in a subject, such as a human, which has been     previously exposed to such bacterial proteins. -   (2) The polypeptides comprise fewer potential T-epitopes than, for     example, G148-GA3 and other related, but different, mutational     variants of the common parent polypeptide sequence, and hence     exhibit low and/or lower immunogenicity when administered to a     subject, such as a human. -   (3) The polypeptides display lower reactivity with circulating     antibodies when administered to a subject, such as a human. Thus, by     amino acid substitutions in the surface of the polypeptides exposed     to circulating antibodies, i.e. in the polypeptide surface not     involved in the binding interaction with albumin, antibody     cross-reactivity is reduced as compared to, for example, antibody     cross-reactivity caused by G148-GA3 as measured in a test set of     human sera. -   (4) The polypeptides have a high albumin binding ability, both in     terms of a higher binding affinity, as defined by a K_(D) value, and     in terms of a slower off-rate, as defined by a koff value, than, for     example, known naturally occurring albumin binding polypeptides,     such as the albumin binding domains derived from bacterial proteins. -   (5) The polypeptides comprise fewer amino acid residues that are     associated with stability problems of polypeptides than, for     example, known naturally occurring albumin binding polypeptides,     such as the albumin binding domains derived from bacterial proteins.     Thus, the polypeptides comprise, for example, no oxidation-prone     methionines or tryptophans and only one asparagine. -   (6) The polypeptides have a higher structural stability, as defined     by a melting point of above 55° C., than previous albumin binding     polypeptides, such as those disclosed in WO09/016043.

In one embodiment, the albumin binding polypeptide of the conjugate/fusions according to the first aspect display all six of the above listed characteristics. In another embodiment, the albumin binding polypeptide according to the first aspect displays, when bound to albumin, a more hydrophilic profile than, for example, previous albumin binding polypeptides, such as those disclosed in WO09/016043. The surface of the albumin binding polypeptide which is exposed to the surroundings when the polypeptide interacts with albumin comprises fewer amino acid residues that confer surface hydrophobicity.

The ABD peptide binds to albumin with a K_(D) value of the interaction that is at most 1×10⁻⁶ M and even more preferably at most 1×10⁻⁹ M (even tighter affinity). More preferably the K_(D) value of the interaction that is at most 1×10⁻¹⁰ M, even more preferably is at most 1×10⁻¹¹ M, yet even more preferably is at most 1×10⁻¹² M, and even further is at most 1×10⁻¹³ M. The values are most preferably for affinity to human serum albumin (“HSA”).

In embodiments of the present invention wherein the motif “forms part of a three-helix bundle protein domain,” this is understood to mean that the sequence of the albumin binding motif is “inserted” into or “grafted” onto or “fused” to the sequence of the naturally occurring (or otherwise original) three-helix bundle domain, such that the motif replaces a similar structural motif in the original domain. For example and without wishing to be bound by theory, the motif is thought to constitute two of the three helices of a three-helix bundle, and can replace such a two-helix motif within any three-helix bundle. The replacement of two helices of the three-helix bundle domain by the two motif helices disclosed herein is performed so as not to affect the basic structure of the polypeptide. That is, the overall folding of the backbone of the polypeptide according to this embodiment of the invention will be substantially the same as that of the three-helix bundle protein domain of which it forms a part, e.g. having the same elements of secondary structure in the same order etc. Thus, a motif useful to the engineered polypeptides herein can form part of a three-helix bundle domain if the polypeptide according to this embodiment has the same fold as the original domain, implying that the basic structural properties are shared, those properties e.g. resulting in similar CD spectra.

The terms “albumin binding” and “binding affinity for albumin” as used in this specification refer to a property of a polypeptide which may be tested for example by the use of surface plasmon resonance technology, such as in a Biacore instrument. For example as described in the examples below, albumin binding affinity may be tested in an experiment in which albumin, or a fragment thereof, is immobilized on a sensor chip of the instrument, and the sample containing the polypeptide to be tested is passed over the chip. Alternatively, the polypeptide to be tested is immobilized on a sensor chip of the instrument, and a sample containing albumin, or a fragment thereof, is passed over the chip. Albumin may, in this regard, be a serum albumin from a mammal, such as human serum albumin. The skilled person may then interpret the results obtained by such experiments to establish at least a qualitative measure of the binding affinity of the polypeptide for albumin. If a quantitative measure is desired, for example to determine a K_(D) value for the interaction, surface plasmon resonance methods may also be used. Binding values may for example be defined in a Biacore2000 instrument (GE Healthcare). Albumin is suitably immobilized on a sensor chip of the measurement, and samples of the polypeptide whose affinity is to be determined are prepared by serial dilution and injected. K_(D) values may then be calculated from the results using for example the 1:1 Langmuir binding model of the BIAevaluation 4.1 software provided by the instrument manufacturer (GE Healthcare).

In one embodiment, the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect binds to albumin such that the k_(off) value of the interaction is at most 5×10⁻⁵ s⁻¹, such as at most 5×10⁻⁶ s⁻¹.

In another embodiment, the amino acid sequence of the albumin binding polypeptide is selected from any one of SEQ ID NO:301-452, SEQ ID NO:455-463, and SEQ ID NO:500-593. More specifically, the amino acid sequence is selected from SEQ ID NO:304-305, SEQ ID NO:307-308, SEQ ID NO:310-311, SEQ ID NO:313-314, SEQ ID NO:316-317, SEQ ID NO:319-320, SEQ ID NO:322-323, SEQ ID NO:325-326, SEQ ID NO:328-329, SEQ ID NO:331-332, SEQ ID NO:334-335, SEQ ID NO:337-338, SEQ ID NO:341-342 and SEQ ID NO:349-350.

In one embodiment, the albumin binding polypeptide according to this aspect further comprises one or more additional amino acid residues positioned at the N- and/or the C-terminal of the sequence defined in (i) or (iii). These additional amino acid residues may play a role in enhancing the binding of albumin by the polypeptide, and improving the conformational stability of the folded albumin binding domain, but may equally well serve other purposes, related for example to one or more of production, purification, stabilization in vivo or in vitro, coupling, labeling or detection of the polypeptide, as well as any combination thereof. Such additional amino acid residues may comprise one or more amino acid residue(s) added for purposes of chemical coupling, e.g. to an HD1.

The amino acids directly preceding or following the alpha helix at the N- or C-terminus of the amino acid sequence (i) or (iii) may thus in one embodiment affect the conformational stability. One example of an amino acid residue which may contribute to improved conformational stability is a serine residue positioned at the N-terminal of the amino acid sequence (i) or (iii) as defined above. The N-terminal serine residue may in some cases form a canonical S-X-X-E capping box, by involving hydrogen bonding between the gamma oxygen of the serine side chain and the polypeptide backbone NH of the glutamic acid residue. This N-terminal capping may contribute to stabilization of the first alpha helix of the three helix domain constituting the albumin binding polypeptide according to the first aspect of the disclosure.

Thus, in one embodiment, the additional amino acids comprise at least one serine residue at the N-terminal of the polypeptide. The amino acid sequence is in other words preceded by one or more serine residue(s). In another embodiment of the albumin binding polypeptide, the additional amino acids comprise a glycine residue at the N-terminal of the polypeptide. It is understood that the amino acid sequence (i) or (iii) may be preceded by one, two, three, four or any suitable number of amino acid residues. Thus, the amino acid sequence may be preceded by a single serine residue, a single glycine residue or a combination of the two, such as a glycine-serine (GS) combination or a glycine-serine-serine (GSS) combination. Examples of albumin binding polypeptides comprising additional amino residues at the N-terminal are set out in SEQ ID NO:445-463, such as in SEQ ID NO:445-448 and SEQ ID NO:462-463. In yet another embodiment, the additional amino acid residues comprise a glutamic acid at the N-terminal of the polypeptide as defined by the sequence formula (i) or (iii).

Similarly, C-terminal capping may be exploited to improve stability of the third alpha helix of the three helix domain constituting the albumin binding polypeptide. The C-terminal proline residue present at the C-terminal of the amino acid sequence defined in (i) or (iii) may at least partly function as a capping residue. A lysine residue following the proline residue at the C-terminal may contribute to further stabilization of the third helix of the albumin binding polypeptide, by hydrogen bonding between the epsilon amino group of the lysine residue and the carbonyl groups of the amino acids located two and three residues before the lysine in the polypeptide backbone, e.g. the carbonyl groups of the leucine and alanine residues of the amino acid sequence defined in (i) or (iii). Thus, in one embodiment, the additional amino acids comprise a lysine residue at the C-terminal of the polypeptide.

As discussed above, the additional amino acids may be related to the production of the albumin binding polypeptide. In particular, one or more optional amino acid residues following the C-terminal proline may provide advantages when the albumin binding polypeptide according to the first aspect is produced by chemical peptide synthesis. Such additional amino acid residues may for example prevent formation of undesired substances, such as diketopiperazine at the dipeptide stage of the synthesis. One example of such an amino acid residue is glycine. Thus, in one embodiment, the additional amino acids comprise a glycine residue at the C-terminal of the polypeptide, directly following the proline residue or following an additional lysine and/or glycine residue as accounted for above.

Examples of albumin binding polypeptides comprising additional amino acid residues at the C-terminal are set out in SEQ ID NO:445-452, such as in SEQ ID NO:449-450. The skilled person is aware of methods for accomplishing C-terminal modification, such as by different types of pre-made matrices for peptide synthesis.

In another embodiment, the additional amino acid residues comprise a cysteine residue at the N- and/or C-terminal of the polypeptide. Such a cysteine residue may directly precede and/or follow the amino acid sequence as defined in (i) or (iii) or may precede and/or follow any other additional amino acid residues as described above. Examples of albumin binding polypeptides comprising a cysteine residue at the N- and/or C-terminal of the polypeptide chain are set out in SEQ ID NO:449-450 (C-terminal) and SEQ ID NO:451-452 (N-terminal). By the addition of a cysteine residue to the polypeptide chain, a thiol group for site directed conjugation of the albumin binding polypeptide may be obtained. Alternatively, a selenocysteine residue may be introduced at the C-terminal of the polypeptide chain, in a similar fashion as for the introduction of a cysteine residue, to facilitate site-specific conjugation (Cheng et al., Nat Prot 1:2, 2006).

In one embodiment, the albumin binding polypeptide comprises no more than two cysteine residues. In another embodiment, the albumin binding polypeptide comprises no more than one cysteine residue.

In another embodiment, the additional amino acid residues of the albumin binding polypeptide comprise a “tag” for purification or detection of the polypeptide, such as a hexahistidyl (His₆) tag, (SEQ ID NO: 34), or a “myc” (“c-Myc”) tag or a “FLAG” tag for interaction with antibodies specific to the tag and/or to be used in purification. The skilled person is aware of other alternatives.

Because of the presence of an albumin binding motif, the ABD peptide binds to albumin with a K value of the interaction that is at most 1×10⁻⁶ M and even more preferably at most 1×10⁹ M (even tighter affinity). More preferably the K value of the interaction that is at most 1×10⁻¹⁰ M, even more preferably is at most 1×10⁻¹¹ M, yet even more preferably is at most 1×10⁻¹² M, and even further is at most 1×10⁻¹³ M.

Sequences of individual albumin binding domain polypeptides suitable for fusion with the active hormone domain peptides as described herein are superior to those presented in Jonsson et al. (Id.) and in WO09/016043. Selected compounds are disclosed in Table 1 below. See also PCT Published Appl. No. WO 2012/004384. Also encompassed by the present invention is an albumin binding polypeptide having an amino acid sequence with 95% or greater identity to a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO:301-452, SEQ ID NO:454-463, and SEQ ID NO:500-593. In particular embodiments, the sequence of the albumin binding polypeptide is selected from SEQ ID NO:313, SEQ ID NO:448, SEQ ID NO:463, SEQ ID NO:500, SEQ ID NO:501, SEQ ID NO:502, and sequences having 95% or greater identity thereto. In other embodiments of the invention, the sequence of the albumin binding polypeptide is selected from SEQ ID NO:454-463 and sequences having 95% or greater identity thereto. In yet further embodiments, the sequence of the albumin binding polypeptide is selected from SEQ ID NO:500-593 and sequences having 95% or greater identity thereto.

Exemplary ABD species include, but are not limited to, the compounds set forth in Table 1 following and the Examples.

TABLE 1 Selected ABD peptides SEQ ID Designation ABD peptide sequence NO: PEP07271 GSSLASAKEAANAELDAYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 455 PEP07554 GSSLASAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 456 PEP07912 GLASAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 457 PEP07914 GLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 458 PEP07911 GLASAKEAANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 459 PEP07834 ALASAKEAANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 460 PEP07844 GSSLASAKEAANAELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 461 PEP07983 GSLASAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 462 PEP07986 GSLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 463 PEP08185 GSLAEAKEAANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALPG 448 LAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 313 SLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 500 LAEAKEAANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALPG 501 SLAEAKEAANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALPG 502 LAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 503 SLAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 504 GSLAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 505 LAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 506 SLAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 507 GSLAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 508 LAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 509 SLAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 510 GSLAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 511 LAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 512 SLAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 513 GSLAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 514 LAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 515 SLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 516 GSLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 517 LAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 518 SLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 519 GSLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 520 LAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 521 SLAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 522 GSLAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 523 LAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 524 SLAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 525 GSLAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 526 LAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 527 SLAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 528 GSLAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 529 LAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 530 SLAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 531 GSLAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 532 LAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKEAILAALP 533 SLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKEAILAALP 534 GSLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKEAILAALP 535 LAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKEAILAALP 536 SLAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKEAILAALP 537 GSLAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKEAILAALP 538 LAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKEAILAALP 539 SLAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKEAILAALP 540 GSLAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKEAILAALP 541 LAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKEAILAALP 542 SLAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKEAILAALP 543 GSLAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKEAILAALP 544 LAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKEAILAALP 545 SLAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKEAILAALP 546 GSLAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEALKEAILAALP 547 LAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILASLP 548 SLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILASLP 549 GSLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILASLP 550 LAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILASLP 551 SLAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILASLP 552 GSLAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILASLP 553 LAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILASLP 554 SLAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILASLP 555 GSLAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILASLP 556 LAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILASLP 557 SLAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILASLP 558 GSLAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILASLP 559 LAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILASLP 560 SLAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILASLP 561 GSLAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILASLP 562 LAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAELP 563 SLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAELP 564 GSLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAELP 565 LAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAELP 566 SLAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAELP 567 GSLAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAELP 568 LAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAELP 569 SLAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAELP 570 GSLAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAELP 571 LAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAELP 572 SLAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAELP 573 GSLAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAELP 574 LAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAELP 575 SLAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAELP 576 GSLAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAELP 577 LAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILKALP 578 SLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILKALP 579 GSLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILKALP 580 LAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILKALP 581 SLAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILKALP 582 GSLAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILKALP 583 LAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILKALP 584 SLAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILKALP 585 GSLAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILKALP 586 LAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILKALP 587 SLAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILKALP 588 GSLAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILKALP 589 LAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILKALP 590 SLAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILKALP 591 GSLAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILKALP 592 LAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDYYKNLINNAKTVEGVKALIDEILAALP 593

In preferred engineered polypeptide embodiments the ABD comprises LAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP (SEQ ID NO: 313), and its N-terminally extended ABD sequence forms including SLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP (SEQ ID NO: 500) and GSLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP (SEQ ID NO:463; PEP07986). The serine in position 2 is capping the sequence, raising Tm approximately 2° C. compared to having a glycine or an alanine in this position.

In preferred engineered polypeptide embodiments where Cys-conjugation is desired the preferred ABD comprises LAEAKEAANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALPG (SEQ ID NO: 501) and its N-terminally extended ABD sequence forms including SLAEAKEAANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALPG (SEQ ID NO: 502) and GSLAEAKEAANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALPG (SEQ ID NO: 448; PEP08185).

In one embodiment of the engineered polypeptides described herein, particularly those ending at its C-terminus with proline or other amino acid known to racemize during peptide synthesis, a glycine can be added to the C-terminus to counter potential problems with racemization of the C-terminal amino acid residue. Alternatively the C-terminal amino acid can in its (alpha-amino group) amidated form, e.g. proline versus proline amide, rather than ending with a glycine. However, if the amidated polypeptide is desired to be produced by recombinant rather than chemical synthesis, then amidation of the C-terminal amino acid can be performed by several methods known in the art, e.g. use of amidating PAM enzyme.

The ABD herein fold completely reversibly, that is they can be denatured and will refold spontaneously to the desired active tertiary structure. This was assessed by circular dichroism spectra analysis, for example of ABD SEQ ID NO:463, where one compares spectrum taken at 20° C. (folded state) and a second spectrum taken after heating to 90° C. (heat denaturation) a third spectrum taken following return to 20° C. (refolded state). During this procedure the Tm can be determined.

Another aspect of the engineered polypeptides is that the ABD can provide an increase in the solubility in aqueous solution of a poor or low soluble leptin variant. This property can be imparted by the ABD itself or because of the ensuing complex of the engineered polypeptide bound to highly soluble albumin in vivo or in vitro, which association increases the solubility of the engineered polypeptide in aqueous solution. Thus, in an embodiment of this further aspect, there is provided a composition, comprising a leptin or leptin analog compound which per se has a solubility in water of no more than 1 mg/ml, or no more than 2 mg/ml or no more than 5 g/ml, covalently coupled to an albumin binding domain as a fusion protein or conjugate as described herein, wherein the compound and the albumin binding polypeptide, fusion protein or conjugate are covalently coupled and the solubility of the engineered polypeptide is greater than that of the unfused (or not conjugated) native leptin or leptin analog compound.

Binding to Albumin. Serum albumin is the most abundant protein in mammalian sera (40 g/L; approximately 0.7 mM in humans) where it binds a variety of molecules including but not limited to lipids and bilirubin (Peters T, 1985, Advances in Protein Chemistry 37:161). It has been observed that the half-life of serum albumin is directly proportional to the size of the animal, where for example human serum albumin (HSA) has a half-life of 19 days and rabbit serum albumin has a half-life of about 5 days (McCurdy T R et al., J. Lab. Clin. Med. 143:115, 2004). Human serum albumin is widely distributed throughout the body, in particular in the intestinal and blood compartments, where it is mainly involved in the maintenance of osmolarity. Structurally, albumins are single-chain proteins comprising three homologous domains and totaling 584 or 585 amino acids (Dugaiczyk L et al., 1982, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 79:71). Albumins contain 17 disulfide bridges and a single reactive thiol, C34, but lack N-linked and O-linked carbohydrate moieties (Peters, 1985, Id.; Nicholson J P et al., 2000, Br. J. Anaesth. 85:599). The lack of glycosylation simplifies recombinant expression of albumin. This property of albumin, together with the fact that its three-dimensional structure is known (He, X M and Carter, D C, Nature 358:209 1992), has made it an attractive candidate for use in recombinant fusion proteins. Such fusion proteins generally combine a therapeutic protein (which would be rapidly cleared from the body upon administration of the protein per se) and a plasma protein (which exhibits a natural slow clearance) in a single polypeptide chain. See e.g., Sheffield W P, 2001, Curr. Drug Targets Cardiovacs. Haematol. Disord. 1:1). Such proteins may provide clinical benefits in requiring less frequent injection and higher levels of therapeutic protein in vivo. However, the engineered polypeptides herein are not conjugated to albumin, but instead contain motifs that allow non-covalent binding to albumin.

Albumin half-Life. It has been observed that the half-life of albumin in different species generally adheres to allometric scaling based on animal weight. For example, the albumin half-life in mouse, rat, rabbit and human has been estimated as 1, 1.9, 5.6 and 19 days, respectively. Indeed, power fitting analysis (Davies & Morris, 1993, Pharm. Res. (N.Y.) 10:1093-1095) provides the equation: Albumin half-life(days)=3.75*body weight (kg)^(0.368).

Further embodiments. It is understood that each of the polypeptides disclosed herein are also contemplated to include (optionally) a methionine at the N-terminus in frame with the naturally-occurring first amino acid thereof. For example, metreleptin (leptin A100) consists of mature human leptin to which has been added an N-terminal methionine, as disclosed in SEQ ID NO:20. Similarly, a methionine residue may be included at the N-terminus of any of the amino acid sequences and Formulae disclosed herein throughout. It is further understood that where a C-terminal Gly appears in an engineered polypeptide sequence set forth herein, the residue may be lost during subsequent amidation.

In some embodiments, a leptin, a leptin analog, a leptin active fragment, or a leptin derivative can have at least 50%, for example 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or even higher, sequence identity relative to a parent leptin. In some embodiments, the parent leptin is a leptin set out in SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677 or SEQ ID NO:680. Accordingly, in some embodiments, a leptin, a leptin analog, a leptin active fragment, or a leptin derivative may have at least 50%, for example 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or even higher, sequence identity relative to any leptin selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, and SEQ ID NO:23. In some embodiments, a leptin, a leptin analog, a leptin active fragment, or a leptin derivative may have at least 50%, for example 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or even higher, sequence identity relative to the leptin set forth in SEQ ID NO:20. In some embodiments, a leptin, a leptin analog, a leptin active fragment, or a leptin derivative may have at least 50%, for example 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or even higher, sequence identity relative to any leptin selected from the group consisting SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO: 28, or SEQ ID NO:29. In some embodiments, a leptin analog may have at least 90% sequence identity relative to the leptin set forth in SEQ ID NO:20. In some embodiments, a leptin analog may have at least 50% sequence identity relative to the leptin set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677 or SEQ ID NO:680. In some embodiments, a leptin analog may have at least 90% sequence identity relative to the leptin set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO: 2, ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677 or SEQ ID NO:680. In some embodiments, a leptin analog may have at least 50% sequence identity relative to the leptin set forth in SEQ ID NO:14 or SEQ ID NO:15. In some embodiments, a leptin analog may have at least 90% sequence identity relative to the leptin set forth in SEQ ID NO:14 or SEQ ID NO:15. In some embodiments, a leptin analog may have at least 50% sequence identity relative to the leptin set forth in SEQ ID NO: 32. In some embodiments, a leptin analog may have at least 90% sequence identity relative to the leptin set forth in SEQ ID NO:32. In some embodiments, a leptin analog may have at least 50% sequence identity relative to the leptin set forth in SEQ ID NO: 33. In some embodiments, a leptin analog may have at least 90% sequence identity relative to the leptin set forth in SEQ ID NO:33. In some embodiments, a leptin analog may have at least 50% sequence identity relative to the leptin set forth in SEQ ID NO:10 or SEQ ID NO:11. In some embodiments, a leptin analog may have at least 90% sequence identity relative to the leptin set forth in SEQ ID NO:10 or SEQ ID NO:11. In some embodiments, a leptin analog may have at least 50% sequence identity relative to the leptin set forth in SEQ ID NO:12 or SEQ ID NO:13. In some embodiments, a leptin analog may have at least 90% sequence identity relative to the leptin set forth in SEQ ID NO:12 or SEQ ID NO:13. Additionally, leptins may be designed, prepared, and used in accordance with the invention in which 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or even 21 amino acids of a leptin selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; is/are substituted with another amino acid, such as a conservative amino acid or a non-conservative amino acid, or is/are otherwise altered. As customary in the art, the term “conservative” in the context of amino acid substitutions refers to substitution which maintains properties of charge type (e.g., anionic, cationic, neutral, polar and the like), hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity, bulk (e.g., van der Waals contacts and the like), and/or functionality (e.g., hydroxy, amine, sulfhydryl and the like). The term “non-conservative” refers to an amino acid substitution which is not conservative.

Additionally, as is understood in the art, for example, murine leptins, rat leptins, bovine leptins, porcine leptins, and rhesus monkey leptins, such as those disclosed herein, are each substantially homologous to human leptins; in particular, the mature forms of these leptins are substantially homologous to mature leptins, and further, particularly near the N-terminal portion of the protein. One may prepare analogs of such leptins, such as mature human leptin form 1 (SEQ ID NO:16) and metreleptin (SEQ ID NO:20), such as by substituting or otherwise altering amino acid residues at one or more positions in such sequences where divergence is observed in a corresponding mature mouse, rat, bovine, porcine, or rhesus monkey leptin. For example, mature human leptins (e.g., SEQ ID NO:20) elicits biological responses in, for example, mice, rat, and monkey). See, e.g., WO 98/28427, WO 2009/064298, US2007/0020284, US2008/0207512, and Murakami et al., 1995, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 209: 944-952. Because human mature leptins have biological activity in, e.g., such species, leptins may be designed and prepared in which one or more amino acids at positions which are divergent at the corresponding position(s) in a leptin from one or more of such species are substituted with the amino acid(s) at such corresponding divergent positions.

For example, using a human mature leptin protein according to SEQ ID NO:16 wherein the first amino acid is valine and the amino acid at position 146 is cysteine, one may substitute with another amino acid one or more of the amino acids at positions 32, 35, 50, 64, 68, 71, 74, 77, 89, 97, 100, 101, 105, 106, 107, 108, 111, 112, 118, 136, 138, 142, and 145 with the corresponding amino acid(s) found at the corresponding position(s) in SEQ ID NO:143) in order to design, prepare, and use engineered polypeptides in accordance with the invention. Additionally, one may also substitute another amino acid, such as a conservative amino acid or a non-conservative amino acid, into one or more of positions 32, 35, 50, 64, 68, 71, 74, 77, 89, 97, 100, 101, 105, 106, 107, 108, 111, 112, 118, 136, 138, 142, and 145 of, for example, SEQ ID NO:16 in order to design, prepare, and use engineered polypeptides in accordance with the invention.

One may further prepare additional leptins based on the mature rat leptin protein sequence (SEQ ID NO:12). See, e.g., WO 98/28427, US2007/0020284, and Murakami et al., 1995, Id., herein incorporated by reference in their entireties and for all purposes. Mature rat leptin differs from mature human leptin form 1 (SEQ ID NO:16) at the following positions: 4, 32, 33, 35, 50, 68, 71, 74, 77, 78, 89, 97, 100, 101, 102, 105, 106, 107, 108, 111, 112, 118, 136, 138 and 145. Accordingly, at one or more of such positions in SEQ ID NO:16, one may substitute the amino acid found at the corresponding position(s) found in mature rat leptin (SEQ ID NO:12) in order to design, prepare, and use engineered polypeptides in accordance with the invention. Additionally, one may also substitute another amino acid, such as a conservative amino acid or a non-conservative amino acid, into one or more of positions 4, 32, 33, 35, 50, 68, 71, 74, 77, 78, 89, 97, 100, 101, 102, 105, 106, 107, 108, 111, 112, 118, 136, 138 and 145 of, for example, SEQ ID NO:16, in order to design, prepare, and use engineered polypeptides in accordance with the invention.

The positions from both mature rat leptin (SEQ ID NO:12) and mature murine leptin form 1 (SEQ ID NO:143) which diverge from the mature human leptin form 1 (SEQ ID NO:16) are: 4, 32, 33, 35, 50, 64, 68, 71, 74, 77, 78, 89, 97, 100, 102, 105, 106, 107, 108, 111, 112, 118, 136, 138, 142, and 145. Accordingly, at one or more of such positions in SEQ ID NO:16, one may substitute the amino acid found at the corresponding position(s) found in mature rat leptin sequence (SEQ ID NO:12) or mature murine form 1 sequence (SEQ ID NO:143) in order to design, prepare, and use engineered polypeptides in accordance with the invention. Additionally, one may also substitute another amino acid, such as a conservative amino acid or a non-conservative amino acid, into one or more of positions 4, 32, 33, 35, 50, 64, 68, 71, 74, 77, 78, 89, 97, 100, 102, 105, 106, 107, 108, 111, 112, 118, 136, 138, 142, and 145 in order to design, prepare, and use engineered polypeptides in accordance with the invention.

In addition, the amino acids found in rhesus monkey mature leptin (SEQ ID NO:10) which diverge from mature human leptin form 1 (SEQ ID NO:16) are (with amino acid residues noted in parentheses in one letter amino acid abbreviation): 8 (S), 35 (R), 48 (V), 53 (Q), 60 (I), 66 (I), 67 (N), 68 ((L), 89 (L), 100 (L), 108 (E), 112 (D), and 118 (L). Since human mature leptins elicit biological response monkeys, a leptin, such as mature human leptin form 1 (SEQ ID NO:16) having one or more of the rhesus monkey divergent amino acids replaced with another amino acid, such as the amino acids in parentheses, may be employed in designing, preparing, and using engineered polypeptides in accordance with the invention. It should be noted that certain rhesus divergent amino acids are also those found in, for example, the above mature murine leptin form 1 (positions 35, 68, 89, 100 and 112). Thus, one may prepare leptins in which one or more amino acids at positions 4, 8, 32, 33, 35, 48, 50, 53, 60, 64, 66, 67, 68, 71, 74, 77, 78, 89, 97, 100, 102, 105, 106, 107, 108, 111, 112, 118, 136, 138, 142, and 145 of, e.g., mature human leptin form 1 (SEQ ID NO:16) are replaced by the corresponding amino acid(s) at such position(s) in murine or rhesus monkey leptins (e.g., SEQ ID NO:143 and/or SEQ ID NO:10).

Other leptins may be prepared by deleting a part of a leptin amino acid sequence, provided that such a leptin amino acid sequence may elicit a biological response. Such leptin amino acid sequences are leptin active fragments. For example, mature murine leptins, mature rhesus monkey leptins, mature human leptins, and mature rat leptins, and other leptins all lack the N-terminal 21 amino acid signal sequence that is present in the unprocessed, full-length forms of such leptin.

One may prepare the following active leptin fragments of such mature leptins:

(a) amino acids 98-146

(b) amino acids 1-32

(c) amino acids 40-116

(d) amino acids 1-99 and (connected to) 112-146

(e) amino acids 1-99 and (connected to) 112-146 having one or more of amino acids 100-111 placed between amino acids 99 and 112.

In addition, such active leptin fragments may also be prepared in which one or more of the amino acids at positions in, e.g., mature human leptin form 1 that are substituted with the amino acids found at the corresponding position(s) found in, e.g., rat, murine, monkey, porcine, and/or bovine mature leptins as disclosed above. Furthermore, any substitutions or alterations may be in the form of altered amino acids, such as peptidomimetics or D-amino acids.

Additionally, the present invention encompasses engineered polypeptides which comprise a leptin, a leptin analog, a leptin active fragment, or a leptin derivative as described above, wherein the leptin, a leptin analog, a leptin active fragment, or a leptin derivative is selected from:

(a) the amino acid sequence 1-146 of a leptin selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, and SEQ ID NO:677; in which a different amino acid is substituted in one or more of the following positions and retaining the same numbering (even in the absence of a glutaminyl residue at position 28): 4, 32, 33, 35, 50, 64, 68, 71, 74, 77, 78, 89, 97, 100, 102, 105, 106, 107, 108, 111, 112, 118, 136, 138, 142, and 145;

(b) the amino acid sequence of subpart (a) in which the glutaminyl residue at position 28 is absent;

(c) the amino acid sequence of subparts (a) or (b) in which a methionyl residue is added at the N-terminus;

(d) a leptin consisting of a fragment of the amino acid sequence of (a), (b), or (c) selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (i) amino acids 98-146     -   (ii) amino acids 1-32     -   (iii) amino acids 40-116     -   (iv) amino acids 1-99 and 112-146     -   (v) amino acids 1-99 and 112-146 in which one or more of amino         acids 100-111 is placed between amino acids 99 and 112; and,     -   (vi) the amino acid sequence of subpart (i) wherein one or more         of amino acids 100, 102, 105, 106, 107, 108, 111, 118, 136, 138,         142, and 145 is substituted with another amino acid;     -   (vii) the amino acid sequence of subpart (ii) wherein one or         more of amino acids 4, 8 and 32 is substituted with another         amino acid;     -   (viii) the amino acid sequence of subpart (iii) wherein one or         more of amino acids 50, 53, 60, 64, 66, 67, 68, 71, 74, 77, 78,         89, 97, 100, 102, 105, 106, 107, 108, 111 and 112 is replaced         with another amino acid;     -   (ix) the amino acid sequence of subpart (iv) wherein one or more         of amino acids 4, 8, 32, 33, 35, 48, 50, 53, 60, 64, 66, 67, 68,         71, 74, 77, 78, 89, 97, 112, 118, 136, 138, 142, and 145 is         replaced with another amino acid; and     -   (x) the amino acid sequence of subpart (v) wherein one or more         of amino acids 4, 32, 33, 35, 50, 64, 68, 71, 74, 77, 78, 89,         97, 100, 102, 105, 106, 107, 108, 111, 118, 136, 138, 142, and         145 is replaced with another amino acid;     -   (xi) the leptin of any of subparts (i)-(x) wherein a methionine         has been added at the N-terminus; and

(e) the leptin of any of subparts (a) through (e) to which a chemical moiety is attached;

(f) the leptin of subpart (g) wherein said chemical moiety is a water soluble polymer moiety;

(g) a leptin of subpart (f) wherein said water soluble polymer moiety is polyethylene glycol;

(h) a leptin of subpart (f) wherein said water soluble polymer moiety is a polyaminoacid moiety; and

(i) a leptin of any one of subparts (e) through (h) wherein said moiety is attached at solely the N-terminus of said protein moiety.

With regard to the above, leptins to which a chemical moiety is attached are leptin derivatives. Derivatization of leptins by attachment of one or more chemical moieties has been found to provide some advantage under certain circumstances, such as increasing the stability and circulation time of the therapeutic protein and decreasing immunogenicity and propensity for, for example, generation of neutralizing antibodies and/or incidence of injection site reactions. See, e.g., WO 98/28427, US2007/0020284, U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,337, Davis et al., issued Dec. 18, 1979. For a review, see Abuchowski et al., in ENZYMES AS DRUGS. (J. S. Holcerberg and J. Roberts, eds. pp. 367-383 (1981)); Francis et al., Id. Accordingly, when employing a derivatized leptin and an ABM or an ABD, one may advantageously generate engineered polypeptides of the invention possessing advantages provided by both entities.

Leptin derivatives may constitute leptins to which a chemical modification has been made of one or more of its amino acid side groups, α-carbon atoms, terminal amino group, or terminal carboxylic acid group. A chemical modification includes, but is not limited to, attaching one or more chemical moieties, creating new bonds, and removing one or more chemical moieties. Modifications at amino acid side groups include, without limitation, alkylation, acylation, ester formation, amide formation, maleimide coupling, acylation of lysine ε-amino groups, N-alkylation of arginine, histidine, or lysine, alkylation of glutamic or aspartic carboxylic acid groups, and deamidation of glutamine or asparagine. Modifications of the terminal amino include, without limitation, the desamino, N-lower alkyl, N-di-lower alkyl, and N-acyl modifications. Modifications of the terminal amino include, without limitation, the desamino, N-lower alkyl, N-di-lower alkyl, and N-acyl modifications, such as alkylacyls, branched alkylacyls, alkylaryl-acyls. Modifications of the terminal carboxy group include, without limitation, the amide, lower alkyl amide, dialkyl amide, arylamide, alkylarylamide and lower alkyl ester modifications. Lower alkyl is C₁-C₄ alkyl. Furthermore, one or more side groups, or terminal groups, may be protected by protective groups known to the ordinarily-skilled synthetic chemist. The α-carbon of an amino acid may be mono- or dimethylated.

Such derivatives include leptins conjugated to one or more water soluble polymer molecules, such as polyethylene glycol (“PEG”) or fatty acid chains of various lengths (e.g., stearyl, palmitoyl, octanoyl), by the addition of polyamino acids, such as poly-his, poly-arg, poly-lys, and poly-ala, or by addition of small molecule substituents include short alkyls and constrained alkyls (e.g., branched, cyclic, fused, adamantyl), and aromatic groups. In some embodiments, the water soluble polymer molecules will have a molecular weight ranging from about 500 Daltons to about 60,000 Daltons.

Such polymer-conjugations may occur singularly at the N- or C-terminus or at the side chains of amino acid residues within the sequence of a leptin as disclosed herein. Alternatively, there may be multiple sites of derivatization along the amino acid sequence of such a leptin. Substitution of one or more amino acids with lysine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, or cysteine may provide additional sites for derivatization. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,824,784 and 5,824,778. In some embodiments, a leptin may be conjugated to one, two, or three polymer molecules.

In some embodiments, the water soluble polymer molecules are linked to an amino, carboxyl, or thiol group, and may be linked by N or C termini, or at the side chains of lysine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, or cysteine. Alternatively, the water soluble polymer molecules may be linked with diamine and dicarboxylic groups. In some embodiments, a leptin is conjugated to one, two, or three PEG molecules through an epsilon amino group on a lysine amino acid.

Leptin derivatives also include leptins with chemical alterations to one or more amino acid residues. Such chemical alterations include amidation, glycosylation, acylation, sulfation, phosphorylation, acetylation, and cyclization. The chemical alterations may occur singularly at the N- or C-terminus or at the side chains of amino acid residues within the sequence of a leptin. In one embodiment, the C-terminus of these peptides may have a free —OH or —NH₂ group. In another embodiment, the N-terminal end may be capped with an isobutyloxycarbonyl group, an isopropyloxycarbonyl group, an n-butyloxycarbonyl group, an ethoxycarbonyl group, an isocaproyl group (“isocap”), an octanyl group, an octyl glycine group (denoted as “G(Oct)” or “octylGly”), an 8-aminooctanic acid group, a dansyl, and/or a Fmoc group. In some embodiments, cyclization can be through the formation of disulfide bridges. Alternatively, there may be multiple sites of chemical alteration along the leptin amino acid sequence.

In certain embodiments, leptins are chemically altered to include a Bolton-Hunter group. Bolton-Hunter reagents are known in the art (“Radioimmunoassay and related methods,” A. E. Bolton and W. M. Hunter, Chapter 26 of HANDBOOK OF EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY, VOLUME I, IMMUNOCHEMISTRY, edited by D. M. Weir, Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1986), and may be used to introduce tyrosine-like moieties with a neutral linkage, through amino-terminal α-amino groups or ε-amino groups of lysine. In some embodiments, the N-terminal end of a leptin is modified with a Bolton-Hunter group. In some embodiments, an internal lysine residue is modified with a Bolton-Hunter group. In some embodiments, there may be multiple sites of Bolton-Hunter modification along the leptin amino acid sequence. Bolton-Hunter reagents used for polypeptide modification are commercially available, and may include, but are not limited to, water-soluble Bolton-Hunter reagent, Sulfosuccinimidyl-3-[4-hydrophenyl]propionate (Pierce Biotechnology, Inc., Rockford, Ill.) and Bolton-Hunter reagent-2, N-Succinimidyl 3-(4-hydroxy-3-iodophenyl) Priopionate (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., Japan, catalog #199-09341). An exemplary Bolton-Hunter group conjugated through an amide linkage to a leptin is illustrated below, wherein the dashed line passes through the amide bond:

Leptins may be iodinated (such as radiolabeled with ¹²⁵I) before or after Bolton-Hunter modification.

In order to prepare engineered polypeptides in accordance with the invention, a leptin derivative for use in the preparation of such may include one or more modifications of a “non-essential” amino acid residue. In the context of the invention, a “non-essential” amino acid residue is a residue that can be altered, e.g., derivatized, without abolishing or substantially reducing the activity (e.g., the agonist activity) of the leptin. The engineered polypeptides of the invention may include derivatizations of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more amino acid residues of the leptin moiety; of these, one or more amino acid residues may be non-essential amino acid residues. Additionally, the polypeptides of the invention may be derivatized such that they include additions of at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more amino acids of the leptin moiety without abolishing or substantially reducing the activity of the polypeptide. Additionally, such non-essential amino acid residues may be substituted with an amino acid residue that is amenable to derivatization as described throughout.

As used throughout, “amino acid,” “amino acid residue” and the like refer to natural amino acids, unnatural amino acids, and modified amino acids. Unless stated to the contrary, any reference to an amino acid, generally or specifically by name, includes reference to both the D and the L stereoisomers if their structure allow such stereoisomeric forms. Natural amino acids include alanine (Ala), arginine (Arg), asparagine (Asn), aspartic acid (Asp), cysteine (Cys), glutamine (Gln), glutamic acid (Glu), glycine (Gly), histidine (His), isoleucine (Ile), leucine (Leu), Lysine (Lys), methionine (Met), phenylalanine (Phe), proline (Pro), serine (Ser), threonine (Thr), tryptophan (Trp), tyrosine (Tyr) and valine (Val). Unnatural amino acids include, but are not limited to homolysine, homoarginine, homoserine, azetidinecarboxylic acid, 2-aminoadipic acid, 3-aminoadipic acid, beta-alanine, aminopropionic acid, 2-aminobutyric acid, 4-aminobutyric acid, 6-aminocaproic acid, 2-aminoheptanoic acid, 2-aminoisobutyric acid, 3-aminoisbutyric acid, 2-aminopimelic acid, tertiary-butylglycine, 2,4-diaminoisobutyric acid, desmosine, 2,2′-diaminopimelic acid, 2,3-diaminopropionic acid, N-ethylglycine, N-ethylasparagine, homoproline, hydroxylysine, allo-hydroxylysine, 3-hydroxyproline, 4-hydroxyproline, isodesmosine, allo-isoleucine, N-methylalanine, N-methylglycine, N-methylisoleucine, N-methylpentylglycine, N-methylvaline, naphthalanine, norvaline, norleucine, ornithine, pentylglycine, pipecolic acid and thioproline. Additional unnatural amino acids include modified amino acid residues which are chemically blocked, reversibly or irreversibly, or chemically modified on their N-terminal amino group or their side chain groups, as for example, N-methylated D and L amino acids or residues wherein the side chain functional groups are chemically modified to another functional group. For example, modified amino acids include methionine sulfoxide; methionine sulfone; aspartic acid-(beta-methyl ester), a modified amino acid of aspartic acid; N-ethylglycine, a modified amino acid of glycine; or alanine carboxamide, a modified amino acid of alanine. Additional residues that can be incorporated are described in Sandberg et al., J. Med. Chem. 41:2481-91, 1998.

As mentioned above, chemical moieties suitable for such derivatization of leptins and other polypeptides include, for example, various water soluble polymers. Preferably, for therapeutic use of the end-product preparation, the polymer will be pharmaceutically acceptable. One skilled in the art will be able to select the desired polymer based on such considerations as whether the polymer/protein conjugate will be used therapeutically, and if so, the desired dosage, circulation time, resistance to proteolysis, and other considerations. For the engineered polypeptides and leptins, the effectiveness of the derivatization may be ascertained by administering the derivatized leptin or the derivatized engineered polypeptide, in the desired form (i.e., by osmotic pump, or, more preferably, by injection or infusion, or, further formulated for oral, pulmonary or nasal delivery, for example), and observing biological effects and biological responses as described herein.

Such a water soluble polymer may be selected from the group consisting of, for example, polyethylene glycol, copolymers of ethylene glycol/propylene glycol, carboxymethylcellulose, dextran, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrolidone, poly-1,3-dioxolane, poly-1,3,6-trioxane, ethylene/maleic anhydride copolymer, polyaminoacids (either homopolymers or random copolymers), and dextran or poly(n-vinyl pyrolidone)polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol homopolymers, polypropylene oxide/ethylene oxide co-polymers, polyoxyethylated polyols and polyvinyl alcohol. Polyethylene glycol propionaldehyde may have advantages in manufacturing due to its stability in water. Also, succinate, styrene, and hydroxyethyl starch may also be used.

Leptin derivatives used in the design and preparation of engineered polypeptides in accordance with the invention may be prepared by attaching polyaminoacids or branch point amino acids to the leptin moiety. For example, the polyaminoacid may be an additional carrier protein, such as an Fc moiety, which can serve to also increase the circulation half life of the leptin or the engineered polypeptide, in addition to the advantages achieved via attachment of an ABM or an ABD. Additionally, such polyaminoacids may be selected from the group consisting of serum albumin (such as human serum albumin), an additional antibody or portion thereof (e.g. the Fc region), or other polyaminoacids, e.g. polylysines. As indicated below, the location of attachment of the polyaminoacid may be at the N-terminus of the leptin moiety, or C-terminus, or other places in between, and also may be connected by a chemical “linker” moiety to the leptin, such as a peptidic linker or a non-peptidic linker.

The polymer may be of any molecular weight, and may be branched or unbranched. For polyethylene glycol, the preferred molecular weight is between about 2 kilodaltons (kDa) and about 100 kDa (the term “about” indicating that in preparations of polyethylene glycol, some molecules will weigh more, some less, than the stated molecular weight) for ease in handling and manufacturing. In certain embodiments, the polyethylene glycol is between about 2 kDa and about 60 kDa. In certain embodiments, the polyethylene glycol is between about 2 kDa and about 40 kDa. In certain embodiments, the polyethylene glycol is between about 5 kDa and about 40 kDa. In certain embodiments, the polyethylene glycol is between about 10 kDa and about 40 kDa. In certain embodiments, the polyethylene glycol is between about 5 kDa and about 30 kDa. In certain embodiments, the polyethylene glycol is between about 5 kDa and about 20 kDa. In certain embodiments, the polyethylene glycol is between about 10 kDa and about 20 kDa. Other sizes may be used, depending on the desired therapeutic profile (e.g., the duration of sustained release desired, solubility characteristics, the effects, if any, on biological activity, the ease in handling, the degree or lack of antigenicity and other known effects of the polyethylene glycol attached to a leptin and/or to an engineered polypeptide of the invention). Additional considerations that may influence the selection of a PEG of a particular molecular weight which may be attached to a leptin to generate a leptin derivative in accordance with the invention include the extent to which such a molecular weight PEG may: mitigate aggregation and/or increase the solubility of the leptin and/or the engineered polypeptide, when present in a pharmaceutically acceptable composition or formulation, or when exposed to physiological fluids or tissues upon administration to a subject (such as by injection); mitigate the incidence of injection site reactions caused by administration of the leptin or the engineered polypeptide upon administration to a subject by injection; mitigate the generation of neutralizing antibodies that may be raised against the leptin or the engineered polypeptide as a result of administration of such a leptin or an engineered polypeptide to a subject; and the like.

The number of polymer molecules so attached may vary, and one skilled in the art will be able to ascertain the resultant effect on function. One may mono-derivatize, or may provide for a di-, tri-, tetra- or some combination of derivatization, with the same or different chemical moieties (e.g., polymers, such as different weights of polyethylene glycols). The proportion of polymer molecules to leptin molecules or engineered polypeptide molecules to be derivatized will vary, as will their concentrations in the reaction mixture. In general, the optimum ratio, in terms of efficiency of reaction in that there is no excess unreacted leptin (or engineered polypeptide, as the case may be) or polymer, will be determined by factors such as the desired degree of derivatization (e.g., mono, di-, tri-, etc.), the molecular weight of the polymer selected, whether the polymer is branched or unbranched, and the reaction conditions.

The chemical moieties should be attached to the leptin and/or the engineered polypeptide with consideration of the effects on functional or antigenic domains of the leptin and/or to the engineered polypeptide. There are a number of attachment methods available to those skilled in the art. E.g., EP 0 401 384 herein incorporated by reference (coupling PEG to G-CSF), see also Malik et al., 1992, Exp. Hematol. 20:1028-1035 (reporting pegylation of GM-C SF using tresyl chloride). For example, polyethylene glycol may be covalently bound through amino acid residues via a reactive group, such as, a free amino or carboxyl group. Reactive groups are those to which an activated polyethylene glycol molecule may be bound. The amino acid residues having a free amino group may include lysine residues and the N-terminal amino acid residue. Those having a free carboxyl group may include aspartic acid residues, glutamic acid residues, and the C-terminal amino acid residue. Sulfhydryl groups may also be used as a reactive group for attaching the polyethylene glycol molecule(s). Preferred for therapeutic purposes is attachment at an amino group, such as attachment at the N-terminus or lysine group. Attachment at residues important for receptor binding should be avoided if receptor binding is desired.

In certain embodiments the 1 to 30 or less amino acids are selected from glycine, alanine, proline, asparagine, glutamine, lysine, aspartate, and glutamate. In a further embodiment the receptor binding is desired.

One may specifically desire to design and prepare an N-terminally chemically modified leptin for use in the preparation of engineered polypeptides of the invention. Using polyethylene glycol as an illustration of the present compositions, one may select from a variety of polyethylene glycol molecules (by molecular weight, branching, etc.), the proportion of polyethylene glycol molecules to leptin or engineered polypeptide molecules, as the case may be, in the reaction mix, the type of pegylation reaction to be performed, and the method of obtaining the selected N-terminally pegylated protein. The method of obtaining the N-terminally pegylated preparation (i.e., separating this moiety from other monopegylated moieties if necessary) may be by purification of the N-terminally pegylated material from a population of pegylated protein molecules. Selective N-terminal chemical modification may be accomplished by reductive alkylation which exploits differential reactivity of different types of primary amino groups (lysine versus the N-terminal) available for derivatization in a particular protein. Under the appropriate reaction conditions, substantially selective derivatization of the protein at the N-terminus with a carbonyl group containing polymer is achieved. For example, one may selectively N-terminally pegylate the protein by performing the reaction at a pH which allows one to take advantage of the pK_(a) differences between the ε-amino group of the lysine residues and that of the α-amino group of the N-terminal residue of the protein. By such selective derivatization, attachment of a water soluble polymer to a protein is controlled: the conjugation with the polymer takes place predominantly at the N-terminus of the protein and no significant modification of other reactive groups, such as the lysine side chain amino groups, occurs. Using reductive alkylation, the water soluble polymer may be of the type described above, and should have a single reactive aldehyde for coupling to the protein. Polyethylene glycol propionaldehyde, containing a single reactive aldehyde, may be used.

In some embodiments, compounds are provided having a linker, for example L1, as described herein, covalently linking a polypeptide hormone domain with an ABD peptide. In some embodiments, a first linker (L1) covalently links HD1 within the engineered polypeptide. In some embodiments, the polypeptide hormone domain (e.g., HD1) as described herein) can be covalently linked to the ABD peptide via a peptide linker. Any linker is optional; i.e., any linker may simply be a bond. When present the chemical structure of a linker is not critical because it serves mainly a spacer function. In one embodiment the linker comprises from 1 to 30 or less amino acids linked by peptide bonds. The amino acids can be selected from the 20 naturally occurring amino acids. Alternatively, non-natural amino acids can be incorporated either by chemical synthesis, post-translational chemical modification or by in vivo incorporation by recombinant expression in a host cell. Some of these amino acids may be glycosylated.

In certain embodiments the 1 to 30 or less amino acids are selected from glycine, alanine, proline, asparagine, glutamine, lysine, aspartate, and glutamate. In a further embodiment the linker is made up of a majority of amino acids that are sterically unhindered, such as glycine, alanine and/or serine. Polyglycines are particularly useful, e.g. (Gly)₃, (Gly)₄ (SEQ ID NO:116), (Gly)₅ (SEQ ID NO:117), as are polyalanines, poly(Gly-Ala), poly(Glyn-Ser), poly (Gly_(n)-Glu), poly(Gly_(n)-Lys), poly(Gly_(n)-Asp), and poly(Gly_(n)-Arg) motifs. Other specific examples of linkers are (Gly)₃Lys(Gly)₄ (SEQ ID NO:118); (Gly)₃AsnGlySer(Gly)₂ (SEQ ID NO:119); (Gly)₃Cys(Gly)₄ (SEQ ID NO:120); and GlyProAsnGlyGly (SEQ ID NO:121). Combinations of Gly and Ala are particularly useful as are combination of Gly and Ser. Thus, in a further embodiment the peptide linker is selected from the group consisting of a glycine rich peptide, e.g. Gly-Gly-Gly; the sequences [Gly-Ser]_(n) (SEQ ID NO:122), [Gly-Gly-Ser]_(n) (SEQ ID NO:123), [Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser]_(n) (SEQ ID NO:124) and [Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser]₁ (SEQ ID NO:125), where n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, for example, [Gly-Gly-Gly Ser]₁ (SEQ ID NO: 149), [Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly Ser]₁ (SEQ ID NO: 150), [Gly-Gly-Gly Ser]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 151), or [Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly Ser]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 152).

In certain embodiments, charged linkers may be used. Such charges linkers may contain a significant number of acidic residues (e.g., Asp, Glu, and the like), or may contain a significant number of basis residues (e.g., Lys, Arg, and the like), such that the linker has a pI lower than 7 or greater than 7, respectively. As understood by the artisan, and all other things being equal, the greater the relative amount of acidic or basic residues in a given linker, the lower or higher, respectively, the pI of the linker will be. Such linkers may impart advantages to the engineered polypeptides disclosed herein, such as improving solubility and/or stability characteristics of such polypeptides at a particular pH, such as a physiological pH (e.g., between pH 7.2 and pH 7.6, inclusive), or a pH of a pharmaceutical composition comprising such polypeptides.

For example, an “acidic linker” is a linker that has a pI of less than 7; between 6 and 7, inclusive; between 5 and 6, inclusive; between 4 and 5, inclusive; between 3 and 4, inclusive; between 2 and 3, inclusive; or between 1 and 2, inclusive. Similarly, a “basic linker” is a linker that has a pI of greater than 7; between 7 and 8, inclusive; between 8 and 9, inclusive; between 9 and 10, inclusive; between 10 and 11, inclusive; between 11 and 12 inclusive, or between 12 and 13, inclusive. In certain embodiments, an acidic linker will contain a sequence that is selected from the group consisting of [Gly-Glu]_(n) (SEQ ID NO:126); [Gly-Gly-Glu]_(n) (SEQ ID NO:127); [Gly-Gly-Gly-Glu]_(n) (SEQ ID NO:128); [Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Glu]_(n) (SEQ ID NO:129), [Gly-Asp]_(n) (SEQ ID NO:130); [Gly-Gly-Asp]_(n) (SEQ ID NO:131); [Gly-Gly-Gly-Asp]_(n) (SEQ ID NO:132); [Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Asp]_(n) (SEQ ID NO:133) where n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more; for example, [Gly-Gly-Glu]₆ (SEQ ID NO: 153). In certain embodiments, a basic linker will contain a sequence that is selected from the group consisting of [Gly-Lys]_(n) (SEQ ID NO:134); [Gly-Gly-Lys]_(n) (SEQ ID NO:135); [Gly-Gly-Gly-Lys]_(n) (SEQ ID NO:136); [Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Lys]_(n) (SEQ ID NO:137), [Gly-Arg]_(n) (SEQ ID NO:138); [Gly-Gly-Arg]_(n) (SEQ ID NO:139); [Gly-Gly-Gly-Arg]_(n) (SEQ ID NO:140); [Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Arg]_(n) (SEQ ID NO:141) where n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more; for example, [Gly-Gly-Lys]₆ (SEQ ID NO: 154).

Additionally, linkers may be prepared which possess certain structural motifs or characteristics, such as an a helix. For example, such a linker may contain an sequence that is selected from the group consisting of [Glu-Ala-Ala-Ala-Lys]_(n) (SEQ ID NO:142), where n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more; for example, [Glu-Ala-Ala-Ala-Lys]₃ (SEQ ID NO: 155), [Glu-Ala-Ala-Ala-Lys]₄ (SEQ ID NO: 156), or [Glu-Ala-Ala-Ala-Lys]₅ (SEQ ID NO: 157).

Additionally, a non-peptidic linker may be employed to serve as the L1 moiety of an engineered polypeptide described herein. For example, as understood in the art, an exemplary non-peptide linker such as a PEG linker may be so-employed. See, e.g., WO2000024782. In certain embodiments, such a PEG linker has a molecular weight of 100 Da to 1000 kDa. In certain embodiments, such a PEG linker has a molecular weight of 100 Da to 500 kDa. In certain embodiments, such a PEG linker has a molecular weight of 100 Da to 100 kDa. In certain embodiments, such a PEG linker has a molecular weight of 100 Da to 50 kDa. In certain embodiments, such a PEG linker has a molecular weight of 100 Da to 10 kDa. In certain embodiments, such a PEG linker has a molecular weight of 100 Da to 5 kDa. In certain embodiments, such a PEG linker has a molecular weight of 100 Da to 1 kDa. In certain embodiments, such a PEG linker has a molecular weight of 100 Da to 500 Da.

It is also to be understood that linkers suitable for use in accordance with the invention may possess one or more of the characteristics and motifs described above. For example, a linker may comprise an acidic linker as well as a structural motif, such as an alpha helix. Similarly, a linker may comprise a basic linker and a structural motif, such as an alpha helix. A linker may comprise an acidic linker, a basic linker, and a structural motif, such as an a helix. Additionally, it is also to be understood that engineered polypeptides in accordance with the invention may possess more than one linker, and each such linker may possess one or more of the characteristics described above.

The linkers described herein are exemplary, and linkers within the scope of this invention may be much longer and may include other residues. In one embodiment, expressly excluded are engineered polypeptides in which the leptin compound is linked directly to the ABD without a linker.

In some embodiments, the engineered polypeptide includes an ABD at the N-terminal, and a HD1 at the C-terminal. Conversely, in some embodiments, the engineered polypeptide includes an ABD at the C-terminal, and a HD1 at the N-terminal. In some embodiments, either the N-terminal or the C-terminal is a leptin, a leptin fragment, or a leptin analog. Preferably, the ABD is at the N-terminus of a leptin compound. Further to embodiments which include an ABD and a HD 1, the engineered polypeptide can have the structure ABD-HD 1 or HD1-ABD (both read in the N-terminal to C-terminal orientation).

It is understood that absent an express indication of the N-terminus and/or C-terminus of a engineered polypeptide set forth herein, the engineered polypeptide is to be read in the N-terminus to C-terminus orientation. For example, where HD1 is a leptin or analog thereof, the terms HD1-ABD, HD1-L1-ABD, HD1-ABD, and the like mean, in the absence of an express indication of the N-terminus and/or the C-terminus, that the leptin compound resides at the N-terminus of the engineered polypeptide, and the ABD resides at the C-terminus. Conversely, if the N-terminus and/or C-terminus is expressly indicated, then the engineered polypeptide is to be read according to the express indication of the terminii. For example, the terms HD1_(C-term-)ABD, HD1-L1-ABD_(N-term) and the like mean that the ABD resides at the N-terminus of the engineered polypeptide, and HD1 resides at the C-terminus.

In some embodiments of the above described engineered polypeptides, HD1 is human leptin or metreleptin. In some further embodiments, HD1 is a leptin analog as described herein. In some embodiments, the leptin analog is leptin A100, A300 or A500.

In some embodiments, the engineered polypeptide described herein has an affinity for serum albumin which is different than the affinity of the ABD polypeptide alone, i.e., in the absence of a conjugated hormone domain. In order to obtain effective association, the engineered polypeptide can have a binding affinity for serum albumin such that the dissociation constant K_(D) is, for example, less than about 10⁻⁶M, 10⁻⁷M, 10⁻⁸M, 10⁻⁹M, 10⁻¹⁰ M, 10⁻¹¹ M, 10⁻¹² M, 10⁻¹³, 10⁻¹⁴M or even 10⁻¹⁵M. In some embodiments, the affinity is not excessively tight such that the engineered polypeptide can dissociate from the albumin and elicit a biological response, for example binding to a receptor, for example, a leptin receptor. The affinity can be measured as described in PCT Published Appl. No. WO 2009/016043, preferably to human serum albumin, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes, including without limitation assays and synthesis methods.

In some embodiments, an engineered polypeptide described herein is superior to a corresponding compound having a different moiety that can extend plasma half-life (e.g., PEG or of Fc or albumin) conjugated with a hormone domain(s). In this context, the term “superior” refers to a variety of functional properties which could be weighed in the evaluation of a treatment for a disease or disorder. For example, the engineered polypeptide described herein could require less biologically active (hormone domain) component, for example 1×, 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, or even less, than the corresponding compound having a different moiety conjugated with the hormone domain(s). For further example, the engineered polypeptide described herein could have higher potency, for example, 1.5×, 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 10×, 20×, 50×, or even higher potency.

Engineered polypeptide compounds contemplated herein include the compounds as set forth in Table 2 following.

TABLE 2 Selected exemplary engineered polypeptides SEQ ID Cmpd Sequence NO. 1 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 594 LKDAILAALPTGGGGASVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDIS HTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILT SMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPQASGLETL ESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLQQLDLSPGC 2 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 595 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLQQLDLSPGC 3 MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLE 596 FIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLEN LRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTE VVALSRLQGSLQDMLQQLDLSPGCTGGGGSASLAEAKEA ANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALP 4 MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLE 597 FIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLEN LRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTE VVALSRLQGSLQDMLQQLDLSPGCTGGGGSGGGSGGGSG GGSASLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGV EALKDAILAALP 5 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 598 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASISIEKIQADTK TLTKTIITRIIQLSTQNGVSTDQRVSGLDFIPGNQQFQNLAD MDQTLAVYQQILSSLPMPDRTQISNDLENLRSLFALLATLK NCPFTRSDGLDTMEIWGGIVEESLYSTEVVTLDRLRKSLK NIEKQLDHIQGC 6 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 599 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPWASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLWQLDLSPGC 7 MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLD 600 FIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLEN LRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPWASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTE VVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLSPGCTGGGGSGGGSGGGS GGGSASLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEG VEALKDAILAALP 8 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 601 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASPIQRVQDDTK TLIKTIITRINDISPPQGVCSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRTLSG MDQILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKS CPVPRARGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQD MLRQLDRNPGC 9 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 602 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASPIQRVQDDTK TLIKTIITRINDISPPQGVSSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRTLSG MDQILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKS CPVPRARGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQD MLRQLDRNPGC 10 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 603 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPQASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLQQLDLSPGC 11 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 604 LKDAILAALPTGLAEAAAKEAAAKEAAAKEAAAKEAAA KAAAASVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQK VTGLEFIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQIS NDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEAS GYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLQQLDLSPGC 12 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 605 LKDAILAALPTGGEGGEGGEGGEGGEGGEASVPIQKVQD DTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPILT LSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLA FSKSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGS LQDMLQQLDLSPGC 13 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 606 LKDAILAALPTGGKGGKGGKGGKGGKGGKASVPIQKVQD DTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPILT LSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLA FSKSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGS LQDMLQQLDLSPGC 14 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 607 LKDAILAALPGTGGGGASVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDI SHTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQI LTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPQASGLET LESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLQQLDLSPGC 15 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 608 LKDAILAALPGTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQD DTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPILT LSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLA FSKSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGS LQDMLQQLDLSPGC 16 MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLE 609 FIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLEN LRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTE VVALSRLQGSLQDMLQQLDLSPGCTGGGGSASLAEAKEA ANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDAILAALPG 17 MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLE 610 FIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLEN LRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTE VVALSRLQGSLQDMLQQLDLSPGCTGGGGSGGGSGGGSG GGSASLAEAKEAANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGV EALKDAILAALPG 18 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 611 LKDAILAALPGTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASISIEKIQADT KTLTKTIITRIIQLSTQNGVSTDQRVSGLDFIPGNQQFQNLA DMDQTLAVYQQILSSLPMPDRTQISNDLENLRSLFALLATL KNCPFTRSDGLDTMEIWGGIVEESLYSTEVVTLDRLRKSL KNIEKQLDHIQGC 19 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 612 LKDAILAALPGTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQD DTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILT LSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLA FSKSCHLPWASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQG SLQDMLWQLDLSPGC 20 MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLD 613 FIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLEN LRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPWASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTE VVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLSPGCTGGGGSGGGSGGGS GGGSASLAEAKEAANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEG VEALKDAILAALPG 21 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 614 LKDAILAALPGTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASPIQRVQDDT KTLIKTIITRINDISPPQGVCSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRTLS GMDQILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSK SCPVPRARGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQ DMLRQLDRNPGC 22 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 615 LKDAILAALPGTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASPIQRVQDDT KTLIKTIITRINDISPPQGVSSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRTLS GMDQILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSK SCPVPRARGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQ DMLRQLDRNPGC 23 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 616 LKDAILAALPGTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQD DTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILT LSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLA FSKSCHLPQASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQG SLQDMLQQLDLSPGC 24 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 617 LKDAILAALPGTGLAEAAAKEAAAKEAAAKEAAAKEAA AKAAAASVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQ KVTGLEFIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQI SNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEA SGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDMLQQLDLSPGC 25 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 618 LKDAILAALPGTGGEGGEGGEGGEGGEGGEASVPIQKVQ DDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVL AFSKSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQ GSLQDMLQQLDLSPGC 26 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDCYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 619 LKDAILAALPGTGGKGGKGGKGGKGGKGGKASVPIQKVQ DDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPIL TLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVL AFSKSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQ GSLQDMLQQLDLSPGC 27 MGSLAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 620 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLQQLDLSPGC 28 MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLE 621 FIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLEN LRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTE VVALSRLQGSLQDMLQQLDLSPGCTGGGGSGGGSGGGSG GGSASLAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGV EALKDAILAALP 29 MGSLAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 622 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPWASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLWQLDLSPGC 30 MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLD 623 FIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLEN LRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPWASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTE VVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLSPGCTGGGGSGGGSGGGS GGGSASLAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEG VEALKDAILAALP 31 MGSLAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 624 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASPIQRVQDDTK TLIKTIITRINDISPPQGVCSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRTLSG MDQILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKS CPVPRARGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQD MLRQLDRNPGC 32 MGSLAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 625 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASPIQRVQDDTK TLIKTIITRINDISPPQGVSSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRTLSG MDQILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKS CPVPRARGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQD MLRQLDRNPGC 33 MGSLAQAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 626 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPQASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLQQLDLSPGC 34 MGSLAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 627 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLQQLDLSPGC 35 MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLE 628 FIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLEN LRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTE VVALSRLQGSLQDMLQQLDLSPGCTGGGGSGGGSGGGSG GGSASLAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGV EALKDAILAALP 36 MGSLAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 629 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPWASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLWQLDLSPGC 37 MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLD 630 FIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLEN LRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPWASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTE VVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLSPGCTGGGGSGGGSGGGS GGGSASLAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEG VEALKDAILAALP 38 MGSLAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 631 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASPIQRVQDDTK TLIKTIITRINDISPPQGVCSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRTLSG MDQILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKS CPVPRARGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQD MLRQLDRNPGC 39 MGSLAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 632 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASPIQRVQDDTK TLIKTIITRINDISPPQGVSSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRTLSG MDQILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKS CPVPRARGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQD MLRQLDRNPGC 40 MGSLAEAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 633 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPQASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLQQLDLSPGC 41 MGSLAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 634 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLQQLDLSPGC 42 MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLE 635 FIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLEN LRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTE VVALSRLQGSLQDMLQQLDLSPGCTGGGGSGGGSGGGSG GGSASLAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGV EALKDAILAALP 43 MGSLAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 636 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPWASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLWQLDLSPGC 44 MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLD 637 FIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLEN LRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPWASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTE VVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLSPGCTGGGGSGGGSGGGS GGGSASLAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEG VEALKDAILAALP 45 MGSLAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 638 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASPIQRVQDDTK TLIKTIITRINDISPPQGVCSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRTLSG MDQILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKS CPVPRARGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQD MLRQLDRNPGC 46 MGSLAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 639 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASPIQRVQDDTK TLIKTIITRINDISPPQGVSSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRTLSG MDQILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKS CPVPRARGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQD MLRQLDRNPGC 47 MGSLAQAKEAANRELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 640 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPQASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLQQLDLSPGC 48 MGSLAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 641 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLQQLDLSPGC 49 MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLE 642 FIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLEN LRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTE VVALSRLQGSLQDMLQQLDLSPGCTGGGGSGGGSGGGSG GGSASLAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGV EALKDAILAALP 50 MGSLAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 643 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPWASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLWQLDLSPGC 51 MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLD 644 FIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLEN LRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPWASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTE VVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLSPGCTGGGGSGGGSGGGS GGGSASLAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEG VEALKDAILAALP 52 MGSLAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 645 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASPIQRVQDDTK TLIKTIITRINDISPPQGVCSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRTLSG MDQILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKS CPVPRARGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQD MLRQLDRNPGC 53 MGSLAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 646 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASPIQRVQDDTK TLIKTIITRINDISPPQGVSSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRTLSG MDQILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKS CPVPRARGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQD MLRQLDRNPGC 54 MGSLAEAKEAANRELDAYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 647 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPQASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLQQLDLSPGC 55 MGSLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 648 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLQQLDLSPGC 56 MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLE 649 FIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLEN LRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTE VVALSRLQGSLQDMLQQLDLSPGCTGGGGSGGGSGGGSG GGSASLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGV EALKDAILAALP 57 MGSLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 650 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPWASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLWQLDLSPGC 58 MVPIQKVQDDTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLD 651 FIPGLHPILTLSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLEN LRDLLHVLAFSKSCHLPWASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTE VVALSRLQGSLQDMLWQLDLSPGCTGGGGSGGGSGGGS GGGSASLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEG VEALKDAILAALP 59 MGSLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 652 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASPIQRVQDDTK TLIKTIITRINDISPPQGVCSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRTLSG MDQILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKS CPVPRARGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQD MLRQLDRNPGC 60 MGSLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 653 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASPIQRVQDDTK TLIKTIITRINDISPPQGVSSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRTLSG MDQILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKS CPVPRARGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQD MLRQLDRNPGC 61 MGSLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 654 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPQASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLQQLDLSPGC 62 MGSLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEA 655 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLQQLDLSPGC 63 MGSLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEA 656 LKEAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLQQLDLSPGC 64 MLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALK 657 DAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASPIQRVQDDTKTL IKTIITRINDISPPQGVSSRPRVAGLDFIPRVQSVRTLSGMD QILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCP VPRARGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQDML RQLDRNPGC 65 MLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALK 658 DAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDTKT LIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILTLSKM DQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSC HLPQASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDM LQQLDLSPGC 66 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 659 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCSLPQASGLETLESLGEVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQ DILQQLDLSPEC 67 MGSLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 660 LKDAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDT KTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILTLS KMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFS KSCHLPWASGLETLDSLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLWQLDLSPGC 68 MLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALK 661 DAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASVPIQKVQDDTKT LIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPILTLSKM DQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSC HLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSLQDM LQQLDLSPGC 69 MGSLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIEKAKTVEGVEA 662 LKEAILAALPTGGEGGEGGEGGEGGEGGEASVPIQKVQDD TKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPILTL SKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAF SKSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGSL QDMLQQLDLSPGC 70 MGSLAEAKVLANRELDKYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEA 663 LKDAILAALPTGGEGGEGGEGGEGGEGGEASVPIQKVQD DTKTLIKTIVTRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLEFIPGLHPILT LSKMDQTLAVYQQILTSMPSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLA FSKSCHLPQASGLETLESLGGVLEASGYSTEVVALSRLQGS LQDMLQQLDLSPGC 71 MLAEAKEAANAELDSYGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALK 681 DAILAALPTGGGGSGGGSGGGSGGGSASPIQRVQDDTKTL IKTIITRINDISHTQSVSSKQKVTGLDFIPGLHPILTLSGMD QILATYQQILTSLQSRNVIQISNDLENLRDLLHVLAFSKSCP VPRARGSDTIKGLGNVLRASVHSTEVVALSRLKAALQDMLR QLDRNPGC

Specifically contemplated are compounds of the above sequences in which the N-terminal methionine is absent, e.g. where the N-terminal commences with VPIQKV (SEQ ID NO: 158) or LAEAK (SEQ ID NO: 159) or GSLAEAK (SEQ ID NO: 35) for example, for leptin compounds. The N-terminal methionine is present primarily as a convenience for bacterial expression. However, conjugate peptides of the present invention can be expressed in a eukaryotic host cell (e.g. yeast (e.g. Pichia), mammalian, baculovirus) or other host cell having post-translational N-terminal proteolytic processing to yield an N-terminal amino acid as found in a naturally occurring mature peptide counterpart of the desired hormone or ABD sequence. Alternatively, an N-terminal sequence used for expression and/or secretion can be one that can be removed post-translationally, e.g. as by use of a protease such as TEV.

III. Methods of Design and Production

Design of constructs. The engineered polypeptides described herein can be designed at the amino acid level. These sequences can then be back translated using a variety of software products known in the art such that the nucleotide sequence is optimized for the desired expression host, e.g. based protein expression, codon optimization, restriction site content. For example, the nucleotide sequence can be optimized for E. coli based protein expression and for restriction site content. Based on the nucleotide sequence of interest, overlapping oligonucleotides can be provided for multistep PCR, as known in the art. These oligonucleotides can be used in multiple PCR reactions under conditions well known in the art to build the cDNA encoding the protein of interest. For one example is 1× Amplitaq Buffer, 1.3 mM MgCl₂, 200 uM dNTPs, 4 U Amplitaq Gold, 0.2 uM of each primer (AmpliTaq Gold, ABI), with cycling parameters: (94 C:30 s, 58 C:1 min, 72 C:1 min), 35 cycles.

Restriction sites can be added to the ends of the PCR products for use in vector ligation as known in the art. Specific sites can include Nde1 and Xho1, such that the cDNA can then be in the proper reading frame in a pET45b expression vector (Novagen). By using these sites, any N-terminal His Tag that are in this vector can be removed as the translation start site would then be downstream of the tag. Once expression constructs are completed, verification can be conduct by sequencing using e.g., T7 promoter primer, T7 terminator primer and standard ABI BigDye Term v3.1 protocols as known in the art. Sequence information can be obtained from e.g., an ABI 3730 DNA Analyzer and can be analyzed using Vector NTI v.10 software (Invitrogen). Expression constructs can be designed in a modular manner such that linker sequences can be easily cut out and changed, as known in the art.

Protease recognition sites, known in the art or described herein, can be incorporated into constructs useful for the design, construction, manipulation and production of recombinant engineering polypeptides described herein.

General methods of production. The engineered polypeptides described herein may be prepared using biological, chemical, and/or recombinant DNA techniques that are known in the art. Exemplary methods are described herein and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,700; WO 2007/139941; WO 2007/140284; WO 2008/082274; WO 2009/011544; and US Publication No. 2007/0238669, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties and for all purposes. Other methods for preparing the compounds are set forth herein.

The engineered polypeptides described herein may be prepared using standard solid-phase peptide synthesis techniques, such as an automated or semiautomated peptide synthesizer. Briefly and generally, the ABD and therapeutic hormonal peptide can be made separately and then conjugated together or can be made as a single polypeptide. Thus the albumin binding polypeptide, therapeutic hormone or engineered polypeptide may alternatively be produced by non-biological peptide synthesis using amino acids and/or amino acid derivatives having reactive side-chains protected, the non-biological peptide synthesis comprising step-wise coupling of the amino acids and/or the amino acid derivatives to form a polypeptide according to the first aspect having reactive side-chains protected, removing the protecting groups from the reactive side-chains of the polypeptide, and folding of the polypeptide in aqueous solution. Thus, normal amino acids (e.g. glycine, alanine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, leucine and valine) and pre-protected amino acid derivatives are used to sequentially build a polypeptide sequence, in solution or on a solid support in an organic solvent. When a complete polypeptide sequence is built, the protecting groups are removed and the polypeptide is allowed to fold in an aqueous solution. Each polypeptide according to the present disclosure reversibly folds, with the ABD domain reversibly folding into a three helix bundle domain without added factors, and hence folds spontaneously. The engineered conjugate may be produced by a method comprising producing an albumin binding polypeptide according to any method, e.g. as described herein, such as by non-biological peptide synthesis, and conjugating the produced ABD polypeptide with the therapeutic hormone defined herein. The ABDs herein folding completely reversibly. This was assessed by circular dicroism spectra analysis; one spectrum taken at 20° C. and a second spectrum after heating to 90° C. followed by return to 20° C. During this procedure the Tm was determined and found to be unchanged after the folding of the denatured polypeptide. Typically, using such techniques, an alpha-N-carbamoyl protected amino acid and an amino acid attached to the growing peptide chain on a resin are coupled at RT in an inert solvent (e.g., dimethylformamide, N-methylpyrrolidinone, methylene chloride, and the like) in the presence of coupling agents (e.g., dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, 1-hydroxybenzo-triazole, and the like) in the presence of a base (e.g., diisopropylethylamine, and the like). The alpha-N-carbamoyl protecting group is removed from the resulting peptide-resin using a reagent (e.g., trifluoroacetic acid, piperidine, and the like) and the coupling reaction repeated with the next desired N-protected amino acid to be added to the peptide chain. Suitable N-protecting groups are well known in the art, such as t-butyloxycarbonyl (tBoc) fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc), and the like. The solvents, amino acid derivatives and 4-methylbenzhydryl-amine resin used in the peptide synthesizer may be purchased from Applied Biosystems Inc. (Foster City, Calif.).

For chemical synthesis solid phase peptide synthesis can be used for the engineered polypeptides, since in general solid phase synthesis is a straightforward approach with excellent scalability to commercial scale, and is generally compatible with relatively long engineered polypeptides. Solid phase peptide synthesis may be carried out with an automatic peptide synthesizer (Model 430A, Applied Biosystems Inc., Foster City, Calif.) using the NMP/HOBt (Option 1) system and tBoc or Fmoc chemistry (See Applied Biosystems User's Manual for the ABI 430A Peptide Synthesizer, Version 1.3B Jul. 1, 1988, section 6, pp. 49-70, Applied Biosystems, Inc., Foster City, Calif.) with capping. Boc-peptide-resins may be cleaved with HF (−5° C. to 0° C., 1 hour). The peptide may be extracted from the resin with alternating water and acetic acid, and the filtrates lyophilized. The Fmoc-peptide resins may be cleaved according to standard methods (e.g., Introduction to Cleavage Techniques, Applied Biosystems, Inc., 1990, pp. 6-12). Peptides may also be assembled using an Advanced Chem Tech Synthesizer (Model MPS 350, Louisville, Ky.).

The compounds described herein may also be prepared using recombinant DNA techniques using methods known in the art, such as Sambrook et al., 1989, MOLECULAR CLONING: A LABORATORY MANUAL, 2d Ed., Cold Spring Harbor. Non-peptide compounds may be prepared by art-known methods. For example, phosphate-containing amino acids and peptides containing such amino acids, may be prepared using methods known in the art, such as described in Bartlett et al., 1986, Biorg. Chem. 14:356-377.

The engineered polypeptides may alternatively be produced by recombinant techniques well known in the art. See, e.g., Sambrook et al., 1989 (Id.). These engineered polypeptides produced by recombinant technologies may be expressed from a polynucleotide. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the polynucleotides, including DNA and RNA, that encode such engineered polypeptides may be obtained from the wild-type cDNA, e.g. human leptin, taking into consideration the degeneracy of codon usage, and may further engineered as desired to incorporate the indicated substitutions. These polynucleotide sequences may incorporate codons facilitating transcription and translation of mRNA in microbial hosts. Such manufacturing sequences may readily be constructed according to the methods well known in the art. See, e.g., WO 83/04053, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes. The polynucleotides above may also optionally encode an N-terminal methionyl residue. Non-peptide compounds useful in the present invention may be prepared by art-known methods. For example, phosphate-containing amino acids and peptides containing such amino acids may be prepared using methods known in the art. See, e.g., Bartlett and Landen, 1986, Bioorg. Chem. 14: 356-77.

A variety of expression vector/host systems may be utilized to contain and express a engineered polypeptide coding sequence. These include but are not limited to microorganisms such as bacteria transformed with recombinant bacteriophage, plasmid or cosmid DNA expression vectors; yeast transformed with yeast expression vectors; insect cell systems infected with virus expression vectors (e.g., baculovirus); plant cell systems transfected with virus expression vectors (e.g., cauliflower mosaic virus, CaMV; tobacco mosaic virus, TMV) or transformed with bacterial expression vectors (e.g., Ti or pBR322 plasmid); or animal cell systems. Mammalian cells that are useful in recombinant protein productions include but are not limited to VERO cells, HeLa cells, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines, COS cells (such as COS-7), WI 38, BHK, HepG2, 3T3, RIN, MDCK, A549, PC12, K562 and 293 cells. Exemplary protocols for the recombinant expression of the protein are described herein and/or are known in the art.

As such, polynucleotide sequences are useful in generating new and useful viral and plasmid DNA vectors, new and useful transformed and transfected prokaryotic and eukaryotic host cells (including bacterial, yeast, and mammalian cells grown in culture), and new and useful methods for cultured growth of such host cells capable of expression of the present engineered polypeptides. The polynucleotide sequences encoding engineered polypeptides herein may be useful for gene therapy in instances where underproduction of engineered polypeptides would be alleviated, or the need for increased levels of such would be met.

The present invention also provides for processes for recombinant DNA production of the present engineered polypeptides. Provided is a process for producing the engineered polypeptides from a host cell containing nucleic acids encoding the engineered polypeptide comprising: (a) culturing the host cell containing polynucleotides encoding the engineered polypeptide under conditions facilitating the expression of the DNA molecule; and (b) obtaining the engineered polypeptide.

Host cells may be prokaryotic or eukaryotic and include bacteria, mammalian cells (such as Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, monkey cells, baby hamster kidney cells, cancer cells or other cells), yeast cells, and insect cells.

Mammalian host systems for the expression of the recombinant protein also are well known to those of skill in the art. Host cell strains may be chosen for a particular ability to process the expressed protein or produce certain post-translation modifications that will be useful in providing protein activity. Such modifications of the polypeptide include, but are not limited to, acetylation, carboxylation, glycosylation, phosphorylation, lipidation and acylation. Post-translational processing, which cleaves a “prepro” form of the protein, may also be important for correct insertion, folding and/or function. Different host cells, such as CHO, HeLa, MDCK, 293, WI38, and the like, have specific cellular machinery and characteristic mechanisms for such post-translational activities, and may be chosen to ensure the correct modification and processing of the introduced foreign protein.

Alternatively, a yeast system may be employed to generate the engineered polypeptides of the present invention. The coding region of the engineered polypeptides DNA is amplified by PCR. A DNA encoding the yeast pre-pro-alpha leader sequence is amplified from yeast genomic DNA in a PCR reaction using one primer containing nucleotides 1-20 of the alpha mating factor gene and another primer complementary to nucleotides 255-235 of this gene (Kurjan and Herskowitz, 1982, Cell, 30:933-43). The pre-pro-alpha leader coding sequence and engineered polypeptide coding sequence fragments are ligated into a plasmid containing the yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH2) promoter, such that the promoter directs expression of a fusion protein consisting of the pre-pro-alpha factor fused to the mature engineered polypeptide. As taught by Rose and Broach, Meth. Enz. 185: 234-79, Goeddel ed., Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, Calif. (1990), the vector further includes an ADH2 transcription terminator downstream of the cloning site, the yeast “2-micron” replication origin, the yeast leu-2d gene, the yeast REP1 and REP2 genes, the E. coli beta-lactamase gene, and an E. coli origin of replication. The beta-lactamase and leu-2d genes provide for selection in bacteria and yeast, respectively. The leu-2d gene also facilitates increased copy number of the plasmid in yeast to induce higher levels of expression. The REP1 and REP2 genes encode proteins involved in regulation of the plasmid copy number.

The DNA construct described in the preceding paragraph is transformed into yeast cells using a known method, e.g., lithium acetate treatment (Steams et al., 1990, Meth. Enz. 185:280-297). The ADH2 promoter is induced upon exhaustion of glucose in the growth media (Price et al., 1987, Gene 55:287). The pre-pro-alpha sequence effects secretion of the fusion protein from the cells. Concomitantly, the yeast KEX2 protein cleaves the pre-pro sequence from the mature engineered polypeptides (Bitter et al., 1984, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:5330-5334).

Engineered polypeptides of the invention may also be recombinantly expressed in yeast, e.g., Pichia, using a commercially available expression system, e.g., the Pichia Expression System (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.), following the manufacturer's instructions. This system also relies on the pre-pro-alpha sequence to direct secretion, but transcription of the insert is driven by the alcohol oxidase (AOX1) promoter upon induction by methanol. The secreted engineered polypeptide is purified from the yeast growth medium by, e.g., the methods used to purify said engineered polypeptide from bacterial and mammalian cell supernatants.

Alternatively, the DNA encoding a engineered polypeptide may be cloned into a baculovirus expression vector, e.g. pVL1393 (PharMingen, San Diego, Calif.). This engineered-polypeptide-encoding vector is then used according to the manufacturer's directions (PharMingen) or known techniques to infect Spodoptera frugiperda cells, grown for example in sF9 protein-free media, and to produce recombinant protein. The protein is purified and concentrated from the media using methods known in the art, e.g. a heparin-Sepharose column (Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.) and sequential molecular sizing columns (Amicon, Beverly, Mass.), and resuspended in appropriate solution, e.g. PBS. SDS-PAGE analysis can be used to characterize the protein, for example by showing a single band that confirms the size of the desired engineered polypeptide, as can full amino acid amino acid sequence analysis, e.g. Edman sequencing on a Proton 2090 Peptide Sequencer, or confirmation of its N-terminal sequence.

For example, the DNA sequence encoding the predicted mature engineered polypeptide may be cloned into a plasmid containing a desired promoter and, optionally, a leader sequence (see, e.g., Better et al., 1988, Science 240:1041-1043). The sequence of this construct may be confirmed by automated sequencing. The plasmid is then transformed into E. coli, strain MC1061, using standard procedures employing CaCl2 incubation and heat shock treatment of the bacteria (Sambrook et al., Id.). The transformed bacteria are grown in LB medium supplemented with carbenicillin, and production of the expressed protein is induced by growth in a suitable medium. If present, the leader sequence will affect secretion of the mature engineered polypeptide and be cleaved during secretion. The secreted recombinant engineered polypeptide is purified from the bacterial culture media by the method described herein.

Alternatively, the engineered polypeptides may be expressed in an insect system. Insect systems for protein expression are well known to those of skill in the art. In one such system, Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) is used as a vector to express foreign genes in Spodoptera frugiperda cells or in Trichoplusia larvae. The engineered polypeptide coding sequence is cloned into a nonessential region of the virus, such as the polyhedrin gene, and placed under control of the polyhedrin promoter. Successful insertion of a engineered polypeptide will render the polyhedrin gene inactive and produce recombinant virus lacking coat protein coat. The recombinant viruses are then used to infect S. frugiperda cells or Trichoplusia larvae in which engineered polypeptide of the present invention is expressed (Smith et al., 1983, J. Virol. 46:584; Engelhard et al., 1994, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:3224-3227).

In another example, the DNA sequence encoding the engineered polypeptides may be amplified by PCR and cloned into an appropriate vector, for example, pGEX-3X (Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.). The pGEX vector is designed to produce a fusion protein comprising glutathione-S-transferase (GST), encoded by the vector, and a protein encoded by a DNA fragment inserted into the vector's cloning site. The primers for the PCR may be generated to include, for example, an appropriate cleavage site. The recombinant fusion protein may then be cleaved from the GST portion of the fusion protein. The pGEX-3X/engineered polypeptide construct is transformed into E. coli XL-1 Blue cells (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.), and individual transformants are isolated and grown at 37° C. in LB medium (supplemented with carbenicillin) to an optical density at wavelength 600 nm of 0.4, followed by further incubation for 4 hours in the presence of 0.5 mM Isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo.). Plasmid DNA from individual transformants is purified and partially sequenced using an automated sequencer to confirm the presence of the desired engineered polypeptide-encoding gene insert in the proper orientation.

The fusion protein, when expected to be produced as an insoluble inclusion body in the bacteria, may be purified as described above or as follows. Cells are harvested by centrifugation; washed in 0.15 M NaCl, 10 mM Tris, pH 8, 1 mM EDTA; and treated with 0.1 mg/mL lysozyme (Sigma Chemical Co.) for 15 min. at RT. The lysate is cleared by sonication, and cell debris is pelleted by centrifugation for 10 min. at 12,000×g. The fusion protein-containing pellet is resuspended in 50 mM Tris, pH 8, and 10 mM EDTA, layered over 50% glycerol, and centrifuged for 30 min. at 6000×g. The pellet is resuspended in standard phosphate buffered saline solution (PBS) free of Mg++ and Ca++. The fusion protein is further purified by fractionating the resuspended pellet in a denaturing SDS polyacrylamide gel (Sambrook et al., supra). The gel is soaked in 0.4 M KCl to visualize the protein, which is excised and electroeluted in gel-running buffer lacking SDS. If the GST/engineered polypeptide fusion protein is produced in bacteria as a soluble protein, it may be purified using the GST Purification Module (Pharmacia Biotech).

The fusion protein may be subjected to digestion to cleave the GST from the mature engineered polypeptide. The digestion reaction (20-40 μg fusion protein, 20-30 units human thrombin (4000 U/mg (Sigma) in 0.5 mL PBS) is incubated 16-48 hrs. at RT and loaded on a denaturing SDS-PAGE gel to fractionate the reaction products. The gel is soaked in 0.4 M KCl to visualize the protein bands. The identity of the protein band corresponding to the expected molecular weight of the engineered polypeptide may be confirmed by partial amino acid sequence analysis using an automated sequencer (Applied Biosystems Model 473A, Foster City, Calif.).

In a particularly exemplary method of recombinant expression of the engineered polypeptides of the present invention, 293 cells may be co-transfected with plasmids containing the engineered polypeptides cDNA in the pCMV vector (5′ CMV promoter, 3′ HGH poly A sequence) and pSV2neo (containing the neo resistance gene) by the calcium phosphate method. In one embodiment, the vectors should be linearized with ScaI prior to transfection. Similarly, an alternative construct using a similar pCMV vector with the neo gene incorporated can be used. Stable cell lines are selected from single cell clones by limiting dilution in growth media containing 0.5 mg/mL G418 (neomycin-like antibiotic) for 10-14 days. Cell lines are screened for engineered polypeptides expression by ELISA or Western blot, and high-expressing cell lines are expanded for large scale growth.

It is preferable that the transformed cells are used for long-term, high-yield protein production and as such stable expression is desirable. Once such cells are transformed with vectors that contain selectable markers along with the desired expression cassette, the cells may be allowed to grow for 1-2 days in an enriched media before they are switched to selective media. The selectable marker is designed to confer resistance to selection, and its presence allows growth and recovery of cells that successfully express the introduced sequences. Resistant clumps of stably transformed cells can be proliferated using tissue culture techniques appropriate to the cell.

A number of selection systems may be used to recover the cells that have been transformed for recombinant protein production. Such selection systems include, but are not limited to, HSV thymidine kinase, hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase and adenine phosphoribosyltransferase genes, in tk-, hgprt- or aprt-cells, respectively. Also, anti-metabolite resistance can be used as the basis of selection for dhfr, that confers resistance to methotrexate; gpt, that confers resistance to mycophenolic acid; neo, that confers resistance to the aminoglycoside, G418; also, that confers resistance to chlorsulfuron; and hygro, that confers resistance to hygromycin. Additional selectable genes that may be useful include trpB, which allows cells to utilize indole in place of tryptophan, or hisD, which allows cells to utilize histinol in place of histidine. Markers that give a visual indication for identification of transformants include anthocyanins, beta-glucuronidase and its substrate, GUS, and luciferase and its substrate, luciferin.

The engineered polypeptides of the present invention may be produced using a combination of both automated peptide synthesis and recombinant techniques. For example, either or both of: the leptin; a leptin analog, a active leptin fragment, or leptin derivative; and an ABD; and optionally a linker; employed in the preparation of the engineered polypeptides as disclosed herein can be made synthetically or recombinantly and then ligated together using methods known in the art, such as “native chemical ligation” and known variations thereof in which an amide bond is formed joining the parent compounds. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,468, which is incorporated herein by reference for al purposes. Alternatively, for example, an engineered polypeptide of the present invention may contain a combination of modifications including deletion, substitution, insertion and derivatization by PEGylation (or other moiety, e.g. polymer, fatty acyl chain, C-terminal amidation). Such an engineered polypeptide may be produced in stages. In the first stage, an intermediate engineered polypeptide containing the modifications of deletion, substitution, insertion, and any combination thereof, may be produced by recombinant techniques as described. Then after an optional purification step as described herein, the intermediate engineered polypeptide is PEGylated (or subjected to other chemical derivatization, e.g., acylation, C-terminal amidation) through chemical modification with an appropriate PEGylating reagent (e.g., from NeKtar Transforming Therapeutics, San Carlos, Calif.) to yield the desired engineered polypeptide derivative. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the above-described procedure may be generalized to apply to a engineered polypeptide containing a combination of modifications selected from deletion, substitution, insertion, derivation, and other means of modification well known in the art and contemplated by the present invention.

Peptides may be purified by any number of methods known in the art, including as described herein In one method peptides are purified by RP-HPLC (preparative and analytical) using a Waters Delta Prep 3000 system. A C4, C8 or C18 preparative column (10μ, 2.2×25 cm; Vydac, Hesperia, Calif.) may be used to isolate peptides, and purity may be determined using a C4, C8 or C18 analytical column (5μ, 0.46×25 cm; Vydac). Solvents (A=0.1% TFA/water and B=0.1% TFA/CH₃CN) may be delivered to the analytical column at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min and to the preparative column at 15 ml/min. Amino acid analyses may be performed on the Waters Pico Tag system and processed using the Maxima program. Peptides may be hydrolyzed by vapor-phase acid hydrolysis (115° C., 20-24 h). Hydrolysates may be derivatized and analyzed by standard methods (Cohen et al., THE PICO TAG METHOD: A MANUAL OF ADVANCED TECHNIQUES FOR AMINO ACID ANALYSIS, pp. 11-52, Millipore Corporation, Milford, Mass. (1989)). Fast atom bombardment analysis may be carried out by M-Scan, Incorporated (West Chester, Pa.). Mass calibration may be performed using cesium iodide or cesium iodide/glycerol. Plasma desorption ionization analysis using time of flight detection may be carried out on an Applied Biosystems Bio-Ion 20 mass spectrometer.

Engineered polypeptide expression assay. Methods are available for assaying the level of protein expression by a host cell. Procedures useful for assaying the level of protein expression by a host cell are exemplified in the following typical protocol. About 25 μl BL21 E. coli cells are transformed with 2 ul plasmid DNA (expression vector for the engineered polynucleotide). Cells can be plated and incubated overnight at 37 degrees C. or at room temperature (RT) over a 48-hr period. A single colony can be selected and used to grow starter culture in 4 ml LB media with appropriate antibiotic for ˜6 hrs. Glycerol stocks can be prepared by adding 100 ul 80% sterile glycerol to 900 ul stock, which can then be mixed gently and stored at −80° C. A 250 μl sample can be removed for TCP uninduced sample. An aliquot, for example, 2 ml of Magic media containing appropriate antibiotic can be inoculated with 5 μl starter culture, which can then be incubated overnight (up to 24 hrs) at 37 C, 300 rpm. As known in the art, Magic Media is autoinducing. Alternatively, 60 ml Magic Media containing appropriate antibiotic can be inoculated with 60 μl starter culture in a 250 ml or 125 ml Thompson flask, which can then be incubated overnight (up to 24 hrs) at 30 C, 300 rpm. After incubation, 250 μl culture can be removed from each tube and the cells pelleted. The cell can be resuspended in 1 ml 50 mM Tris pH 8, 150 mM NaCl, to which can be added 0.1 volumes (100 μl) POP culture reagent and 1 μl r-lysozyme (1:750 dilution in r-lysozyme buffer). The mixture can be mixed well and incubated at least 10 min at RT. The preparation can then be centrifuge 10 min at 14000×G. The supernatant (soluble fraction) can be removed and retained, and samples can be prepared for gel analysis (15 μl+5 μl LDS). The remaining inclusion body pellet can be resuspended in 1 ml 1% SDS with sonication. The sample can be prepared for gel analysis (15 μl+5 μl LDS). For uninduced samples, 1.0 volumes POP culture reagent and 1 μl r-lysozyme (1:750 dilution in r-lysozyme buffer) can be added. The mixture can be mixed well and incubated at least 10 min at RT. These samples may not need to be centrifuged. The sample can then be prepared for gel analysis (15 μl+5 μl LDS). NU-PAGE gels (4-12%) non-reduced in 1×MES buffer can be run and stained with SimplyBlue microwave protocol. Destaining can be conducted overnight, as known in the art. A gel image can be retained, and analyzed to determine protein expression levels.

Inclusion Body preparation. For engineered polypeptides that are found in the inclusion body fraction, the following procedure can be beneficial. The cell pellet can be resuspended in a minimum of 100 ml Lysis buffer for each 50 ml culture. Upon the addition of 30 ml, a 10 ml pipette can be used to resuspend, then the tube can be washed out with an additional 70 ml. The resuspended cell solution can be multiply run, e.g., 4 passes, through a microfluidizer at 100 PSI (min) taking care to keep chamber in ice water through the entire process. The fluidized slurry can be centrifuged at 14000×g, 20 min (e.g., JLA 10.5, 10,000 rpm, using 250 ml Nalgene® bottles). The inclusion body pellet can be resuspended on ice in chilled lysis buffer with stir bar and stir plate for 1 hour at 4 C after disruption with pipette tip. The pellet can be resuspended a second time in distilled H₂O with stir bar and stir plate for 1 hour at 4 C after disruption with pipette tip, followed by centrifugation at 14000×g, 15 min. The supernatant can be removed and discarded. The resultant can be stored at −80° C.

Protein purification. As described herein, numerous methods are known for isolation of expressed polypeptides. The following is one example. Inclusion body pellets can be solubilized in appropriate volume of solubilization buffer (8M urea or 8M guanidine, 50 mM Tris, 10 mM DTT, pH 7.75) for 1 hour at RT. The solubilized pellets can be centrifuged for 20 min at 27 000 g. Filtered (e.g., 0.4 um) supernatant can be transferred drop by drop into appropriate volume of refolding buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, 1 M urea, 0.8 M arginine, 4 mM cysteine, 1 mM cystamine; pH 8) at RT. The result can then be placed at 4° C. overnight or longer with gentle mixing. Samples can be concentrated and run on a gel filtration column (Superdex™ 75 26/60) at 1-2 ml/min in 4 C environment using a GE Healthsciences AKTAFPLC™. Appropriate protein containing fractions can be identified via SDS-PAGE, pooled and run through a second gel filtration column. Pooled protein can then be concentrated in Amicon filter to appropriate concentration and assayed for endotoxin levels using, e.g., Endosafe® PTS Reader (Charles River), as known in the art. Once a protein sample has passed the endotoxin criteria, it can be sterile filtered, dispensed into aliquots and run through quality control assays. Quality control assays can include analytical HPLC-SEC, non reducing SDS PAGE and RP HPLC-MS to obtain approximate mass. Proteins can be obtained in 1×PBS (137 mM sodium chloride, 2.7 mM potassium chloride, 4.3 mM disodium phosphate, 1.4 mM monopotassium phosphate, pH 7.2), distributed into aliquots and flash frozen for storage at −70 to −80° C.

IV. Methods of Use and Treating Disease

Indications. A variety of diseases and disorders are contemplated to be beneficially treated by the polypeptide compounds and methods described herein.

Obesity and overweight. Obesity and its associated disorders including overweight are common and serious public health problems in the United States and throughout the world. Upper body obesity is the strongest risk factor known for type 2 diabetes mellitus and is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Obesity is a recognized risk factor for hypertension, atherosclerosis, congestive heart failure, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, reproductive disorders such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, cancers of the breast, prostate, and colon, and increased incidence of complications of general anesthesia. See, e.g., Kopelman, 2000, Nature 404:635-43.

Obesity reduces life-span and carries a serious risk of the co-morbidities listed above, as well disorders such as infections, varicose veins, acanthosis nigricans, eczema, exercise intolerance, insulin resistance, hypertension hypercholesterolemia, cholelithiasis, orthopedic injury, and thromboembolic disease. See e.g., Rissanen et al., 1990, Br. Med. J., 301:835-7. Obesity is also a risk factor for the group of conditions called insulin resistance syndrome, or “Syndrome X” and metabolic syndrome. The worldwide medical cost of obesity and associated disorders is enormous.

The pathogenesis of obesity is believed to be multi-factoral. A problem is that, in obese subjects, nutrient availability and energy expenditure do not come into balance until there is excess adipose tissue. The central nervous system (CNS) controls energy balance and coordinates a variety of behavioral, autonomic and endocrine activities appropriate to the metabolic status of the animal. The mechanisms or systems that control these activities are broadly distributed across the forebrain (e.g., hypothalamus), hindbrain (e.g., brainstem), and spinal cord. Ultimately, metabolic (i.e., fuel availability) and cognitive (i.e., learned preferences) information from these systems is integrated and the decision to engage in appetitive (food seeking) and consummatory (ingestion) behaviors is either turned on (meal procurement and initiation) or turned off (meal termination). The hypothalamus is thought to be principally responsible for integrating these signals and then issuing commands to the brainstem. Brainstem nuclei that control the elements of the consummatory motor control system (e.g., muscles responsible for chewing and swallowing). As such, these CNS nuclei have literally been referred to as constituting the “final common pathway” for ingestive behavior.

Neuroanatomical and pharmacological evidence support that signals of energy and nutritional homeostasis integrate in forebrain nuclei and that the consummatory motor control system resides in brainstem nuclei, probably in regions surrounding the trigeminal motor nucleus. There are extensive reciprocal connection between the hypothalamus and brainstem. A variety of CNS-directed anti-obesity therapeutics (e.g., small molecules and peptides) focus predominantly upon forebrain substrates residing in the hypothalamus and/or upon hindbrain substrates residing in the brainstem.

Obesity remains a poorly treatable, chronic, essentially intractable metabolic disorder. Accordingly, a need exists for new therapies useful in weight reduction and/or weight maintenance in a subject. Such therapies would lead to a profound beneficial effect on the subject's health. Methods and therapies employing the engineered peptides disclosed herein, either alone or in combination with other anti-obesity agents (see, e.g., WO 2009064298 and US 20080207512) may provide such beneficial effects.

Leptin deficiency. Leptin deficiency has been shown to result in obesity. One form of leptin deficiency is congenital leptin deficiency, a rare genetic disorder. See Montague et al., 1997, Nature 387:903-908. Severe leptin deficiency can be a result of uncontrolled insulin-deficient diabetes mellitus that results from destruction of insulin-secreting β-cells. It is theorized that the lack of insulin leads to synthesis and storage of triglycerides in adipose tissue, which prevents weight gain and in turn dramatically reduces plasma leptin levels since leptin is synthesized in adipose tissue. These and other Leptin deficiencies, and disease and disorders that result from such deficiencies, can be treated with leptin replacement therapy, such as via daily leptin or leptin agonist injections. The engineered polypeptides described herein can provide a more convenient and advantageous therapeutic treatment of such diseases and disorders.

Diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Diabetes mellitus is recognized as a complex, chronic disease in which 60% to 70% of all case fatalities among diabetic patients are a result of cardiovascular complications. Diabetes is not only considered a coronary heart disease risk equivalent but is also identified as an independent predictor of adverse events, including recurrent myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and death following a cardiovascular incident. The adoption of tighter glucose control and aggressive treatment for cardiovascular risk factors would be expected to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease complications and improve overall survival among diabetic patients. Yet, diabetic patients are two to three times more likely to experience an acute myocardial infarction than non-diabetic patients, and diabetic patients live eight to thirteen years less than non-diabetic patients.

Understanding the high risk nature of diabetic/acute myocardial infarction patients, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (“ACC/AHA”) clinical practice guidelines for the management of hospitalized patients with unstable angina or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (collectively referred to as “ACS”) recently recognized that hospitalized diabetic patients are a special population requiring aggressive management of hyperglycemia. Specifically, the guidelines state that glucose-lowering therapy for hospitalized diabetic/ACS patients should be targeted to achieve preprandial glucose less than 10 mg/dL, a maximum daily target than 180 mg/dL, and a post-discharge hemoglobin A1c less than 7%.

In a nationwide sample of elderly ACS patients, it was demonstrated that an increase in 30-day mortality in diabetic patients corresponded with the patients having higher glucose values upon admission to the hospital. See “Diabetic Coronary Artery Disease & Intervention,” Coronary Therapeutics 2002, Oak Brook, Ill., Sep. 20, 2002. There is increasing evidence that sustained hyperglycemia rather than transient elevated glucose upon hospital admission is related to serious adverse events. Although the ideal metric for hyperglycemia and vascular risk in patients is not readily known, it appears that the mean glucose value during hospitalization is most predictive of mortality. In a separate study of ACS patients form over forty hospitals in the United States, it was found that persistent hyperglycemia, as opposed to random glucose values upon admission to the hospital, was more predictive of in-hospital mortality. See Acute Coronary Syndrome Summit: A State of the Art Approach, Kansas City, Mo., Sep. 21, 2002. Compared with glucose values upon admission, a logistic regression model of glucose control over the entire hospitalization was most predictive of mortality. There was nearly a two-fold increased risk of mortality during hospitalization for each 10 mg/dL increase in glucose over 120 mg/dL. In a smaller cohort of consecutive diabetic/ACS patients, there was a graded increase in mortality at one year with increasing glucose levels upon hospital admission. In the hospital setting, the ACC/AHA guidelines suggest initiation of aggressive insulin therapy to achieve lower blood glucose during hospitalization.

It has been reported that leptin can have direct benefit to treating diabetes, particularly in type I diabetes and type II diabetes, with or without the presence of obesity, and more particularly in conditions of low serum leptin. It has been reported that leptin replenishment reduced or prevented hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance and hyperglycemia in various animal models of diabetes type 1 and 2 with or without attendant obesity. For example, high leptin plasma levels generated either by pharmacological administration of leptin or with adenoviral gene therapy reduced hyperglycemia and associated increases of plasma glucagon levels in STZ-induced diabetes, despite persistently low insulin levels.

Lipid regulation diseases. As known in the art, lipodystrophy is characterized by abnormal or degenerative conditions of the body's adipose tissue. Dyslipidemia is a disruption in the normal lipid component in the blood. It is believed that prolonged elevation of insulin levels can lead to dyslipidemia. Hyperlipidemia is the presence of raised or abnormal levels of lipids and/or lipoproteins in the blood. Hypothalamic amenorrhea is a condition in which menstruation stops for several months due to a problem involving the hypothalamus. It has been found that leptin replacement therapy in women with hypothalamic amenorrhea improves reproductive, thyroid, and growth hormone axes and markers of bone formation without causing adverse effects. See e.g., Oral et al., N Engl J Med. 2004, 351: 959-962, 987-997. Fatty liver disease, e.g., nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to a wide spectrum of liver disease ranging from simple fatty liver (steatosis), to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), to cirrhosis (irreversible, advanced scarring of the liver). All of the stages of NAFLD have in common the accumulation of fat (fatty infiltration) in the liver cells (hepatocytes). It is believed that leptin is one of the key regulators for inflammation and progression of fibrosis in various chronic liver diseases including NASH. See e.g., Ikejima et al., Hepatology Res. 33:151-154.

Additionally, without wishing to be bound by any theory, it is believed that relative insulin deficiency in type 2 diabetes, glucose toxicity, and increased hepatic free fatty acid burden through elevated delivery from intra-abdominal adipose tissue via the portal vein, are implicated as possible causes in fatty liver disorders. Indeed, it has been hypothesized that eating behavior is the key factor driving the metabolic syndrome of obesity with its many corollaries, including NASH. Accordingly, treatments aimed at decreasing food intake and increasing the number of small meals, as has already been demonstrated in type 2 diabetes, may effectively treat and prevent NASH. Drugs that promote insulin secretion and weight loss, and delay gastric emptying are also effective at improving glucose tolerance and thus may improve fatty liver with its attendant hyperinsulinemia. Thus, use of a leptin, leptin analog, e.g., metreleptin, or an active fragment thereof, can be well suited as a treatment modality for this condition. Accordingly, engineered polypeptides described herein which include a leptin, leptin analog or an active fragment thereof, can be useful in the treatment of fatty liver disorders.

Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease (AD), as known in the art, is associated with plaques and tangles in the brain which include dysregulation of the A-beta protein. It is believed that brain lipids are intricately involved in A-beta-related pathogenic pathways, and that an important modulator of lipid homeostasis is leptin. Accordingly, leptin can modulate bidirectional A-beta kinesis, reducing its levels extracellularly. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that chronic administration of leptin to AD-transgenic animals reduced the brain A-beta load, underlying its therapeutic potential. See Fewlass et al., 2004, FASEB J., 18:1870-1878. Additionally, type 2 diabetes mellitus and AD share epidemiological and biochemical features in that both are characterized by insoluble protein aggregates with a fibrillar conformation-amylin in type 2 DM pancreatic islets, and Aβ in AD brain. Without wishing to be bound by any theory, it is believed that similar toxic mechanisms may characterize type-2 DM and AD. See Lim et al., FEBS Lett., 582:2188-2194.

Metabolic syndrome X. Metabolic Syndrome X is characterized by insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and visceral distribution of adipose tissue, and plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes. It has also been found to be strongly correlated with NASH, fibrosis, and cirrhosis of the liver. Accordingly, engineered polypeptides described herein can be useful in the treatment of metabolic syndrome X.

Huntington's Disease. Huntington's Disease is an autosomal dominant, neurogenerative disease. Features of the disease include motor disturbances, dementia, psychiatric problems, and unintended weight loss. Engineered polypeptides described herein can be useful in the treatment of Huntington's Disease.

Accordingly, in one aspect, there is provided a method for treating a disease or disorder in a subject. The subject is in need of treatment for the disease or disorder. The disease or disorder can be lipodystrophy, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, overweight, obesity, hypothalamic amenorrhea, Alzheimer's disease, leptin deficiency, fatty liver disease or diabetes (including type I and type II). Additional diseases and disorders which can be treated by the compounds and methods described herein include nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), metabolic syndrome X and Huntington's Disease. The method of treatment includes administration to the subject of an engineered polypeptide as described herein in an amount effective to treatment the disease or disorder. The engineered polypeptide will include as HD1 a leptin, a leptin fragment or a leptin analog. Accordingly, the engineered polypeptide can have one of the following structures: ABD-HD1, HD1-ABD, ABD-L1-HD1 or HD1-L1-ABD.

In all of the treatment embodiments described herein, the leptin can be human leptin or metreleptin. In some embodiments, the leptin analog has at least 50%, for example, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or even higher, identity with human leptin. In some embodiments, the leptin analog has at least 50%, for example, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or even higher, identity with mouse leptin. In some embodiments, the leptin analog has at least 50%, for example, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or even higher, identity with rat leptin. In some embodiments, the leptin analog has at least 50%, for example, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or even higher, identity with platypus leptin. In some embodiments, the leptin analog has at least 50%, for example, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or even higher, identity with seal leptin. In some embodiments, the leptin analog is leptin A100, A300 or A500.

V. Assays

Methods for production and assay of engineered polypeptides described herein are generally available to the skilled artisan. Further, specific methods are described herein as well as in the patent publications and other references cited herein, which are incorporated by reference for this additional purpose.

Food intake. Without wishing to be bound by any theory, it is believed that food intake is useful in the assessment of the utility of a compound as described herein. For example, it is known that a number of metabolic pathologies are related to food intake (e.g., diabetes, obesity). Accordingly, an initial screening can be conducted to determine the extent to which food intake is modulated by administration of compounds described herein, and a positive initial screening can be useful in subsequent development of a compound.

A variety of food intake assays are available to one of skill in the art. For example, in the so-called “home cage model” of food intake, subjects (e.g., rats) are maintained in their home cage, and food intake along with total weight of the subject is measured following injection of test compound. In the so-called “feeding patterns model” of food intake assay, subjects (e.g., rats) are habituated to a feeding chamber and to injections prior to testing. After test compound administration, the subjects are immediately placed into the feeding chamber, and food intake is automatically determined as a function of time (e.g., 1-min intervals). For both tests, the food is standard chow or any of a variety of chows (e.g., high fat) known in the art. In the so-called “mouse food intake” assay, a test compound may be tested for appetite suppression, or for an effect on body weight gain in diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice. In a typical mouse food intake assay, female NIH/Swiss mice (8-24 weeks old) are group housed with a 12:12 hour light:dark cycle with lights on at 0600. Water and a standard pelleted mouse chow diet are available ad libitum, except as noted. Animals are fasted starting at approximately 1500 hrs, 1 day prior to experiment. The morning of the experiment, animals are divided into experimental groups. In a typical study, n=4 cages with 3 mice/cage. At time=0 min, all animals are given an intraperitoneal injection of vehicle or compound, typically in an amount ranging from about 10 nmol/kg to 75 nmol/kg, and immediately given a pre-weighed amount (10-15 g) of the standard chow. Food is removed and weighed at various times, typically 30, 60, and 120 minutes, to determine the amount of food consumed. See e.g., Morley et al., 1994, Am. J. Physiol. 267:R178-R184). Food intake is calculated by subtracting the weight of the food remaining at the e.g. 30, 60, 120, 180 and/or 240 minute time point, from the weight of the food provided initially at time=0. Significant treatment effects are identified by ANOVA (p<0.05). Where a significant difference exists, test means are compared to the control mean using Dunnett's test (Prism v. 2.01, GraphPad Software Inc., San Diego, Calif.). For any test described herein, administration of test compound can be by any means, including injection (e.g., subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, and the like), oral, or other methods of administration known in the art.

In vitro assays. Without wishing to be bound by any theory or mechanism of action, it is believed that correlations exist between the results of in vitro (e.g., receptor) assays, and the utility of agents for the treatment of metabolic diseases and disorders. Accordingly, in vitro assays (e.g., cell based assays) are useful as a screening strategy for potential metabolic agents, such as described herein. A variety of in vitro assays are known in the art, including those described as follows.

Leptin Binding Assay. Leptin binding can be measured by the potency of a test compound in displacing ¹²⁵I-recombinant-Leptin (murine) from the surface membrane expressing chimeric Leptin (Hu)-EPO (Mu) receptor presented by the 32D OBECA cell line (J Biol Chem 1998; 273(29):18365-18373). Purified cell membranes can be prepared by homogenization from harvested confluent cell cultures of 32D OBECA cells. Membranes can be incubated with ¹²⁵I-rec-Murine-Leptin and increasing concentrations of test compound for 3 hours at ambient temperature in 96-well polystyrene plates. Bound and unbound ligand fractions can then be separated by rapid filtration onto 96-well GF/B plates pre-blocked for at least 60′ in 0.5% PEI (polyethyleneimine). Glass fiber plates can then be dried, scintillant added, and CPM determined by reading on a multiwell scintillation counter capable of reading radiolabeled iodine.

Leptin Functional Assay. Increased levels of phosphorylated STATS (Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 5) can be measured following treatment of 32D-Keptin cells ectopically expressing chimeric Hu-Leptin/Mu-EPO receptor with a test compound. The 32D-Keptin cells (identical to 32D-OBECA cells but maintained in culture with leptin) can be leptin weaned overnight and then treated with test compounds in 96-well plates for 30 minutes at 37° C. followed by cell extraction. The pSTAT5 levels in the cell lysates can be determined using the Perkin Elmer AlphaScreen® SureFire® pSTAT5 assay kit in a 384-well format (Proxiplate™ 384 Plus). The efficacy of test compounds can be determined relative to the maximal signal in cell lysates from cells treated with Human leptin.

VI. Pharmaceutical Compositions

In one aspect, there are provided pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds described herein in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient (e.g., carrier). The term “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier,” as used herein refers to pharmaceutical excipients, for example, pharmaceutically, physiologically, acceptable organic or inorganic carrier substances suitable for enteral or parenteral application that do not deleteriously react with the active agent. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include water, salt solutions (e.g., Ringer's solution and the like), alcohols, oils, gelatins, and carbohydrates such as lactose, amylose or starch, fatty acid esters, hydroxymethycellulose, and polyvinyl pyrrolidine. Such preparations can be sterilized and, if desired, mixed with auxiliary agents such as lubricants, preservatives, stabilizers, wetting agents, emulsifiers, salts for influencing osmotic pressure, buffers, coloring, and/or aromatic substances and the like that do not deleteriously react with the compounds of the invention.

In a further aspect, there is provided a pharmaceutical composition which includes a engineered polypeptide as described herein in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition is a long lasting pharmaceutical composition. The term “long lasting” in the context of administration of a pharmaceutical composition refers to duration of action. Accordingly, a long lasting pharmaceutical composition may be administered at intervals of, for example, 1 hr, 2 hr, 4 hr, 8 hr, 12 hr, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 1 month or even longer. In a preferred embodiment, administration is once a day (i.e., “once daily”). In a more preferred embodiments, administration is once a week (i.e., “once weekly”).

A. Methods

The engineered polypeptides described herein can be administered alone or can be co-administered to a subject. Co-administration is meant to include simultaneous or sequential administration of the compounds individually or in combination (more than one compound). For example, it has been found that obesity can be beneficially treated with a combination therapy including a leptin (e.g., metreleptin) and certain other anti-obesity compounds. See e.g., U.S. Published Appl. No. 2008/0207512. Accordingly, an engineered polypeptide described herein comprising an ABD and a leptin could be useful for treatment of obesity. Alternatively, the individual engineered polypeptides having can be co-administered with other anti-obesity agents, such as exenatide or liraglutide.

In some embodiments, the formulations and methods described herein further provide that the leptin or leptin analog engineered polypeptide is co-administered with one or more anti-diabetic agents, such as anti-hyperglycemia agents, e.g. insulin, amylins, pramlintide, metformin.

In some embodiments, the formulations and methods described herein further provide that the leptin or leptin analog engineered polypeptide is co-administered with one or more cholesterol and/or triglyceride lowering agents. Exemplary agents include HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (e.g., atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin); bile ace sequestrants (e.g., colesevelam, cholestyramine, colestipol); fibrates (e.g., fenofibrate, clofibrate, gemfibrozil); ezetimibe, nicotinic acid, probucol, a lovastatin/niacin combination; an atorvastatin/amlodipine combination; and a simvastatin/ezetimibe combination.

The present disclosure provides the composition for use as a medicament, i.e. for use in therapy, since the leptin compound is a therapeutically active compound, and surprisingly retains activity when fused to ABD. Compositions comprising an engineered polypeptide, either liquid or dry form, and optionally at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or excipient are also specifically contemplated and are exemplified herein.

The composition has an ability to associate with albumin in vivo or in vitro. In certain cases, it may be of benefit to form a complex of the composition with albumin outside of a living organism, i.e. to add exogenous albumin to the composition. Such a composition may be lyophilized, providing a formulation that is suitable for storage at ambient temperature. Thus, the present disclosure also provides a composition as defined above which further comprises albumin, such as human serum albumin, and which may optionally be in dry form.

Co-administration can be achieved by separately administering the leptin, leptin analog, or leptin analog agonist engineered polypeptide with the second agent, or by administering a single pharmaceutical formulation comprising the leptin, leptin analog, or leptin analog agonist engineered polypeptide and the second agent. Appropriate dosage regimens for the second agents are generally known in the art.

The preparations can also be co-administered, when desired, with other active substances (e.g. to reduce metabolic degradation) as known in the art or other therapeutically active agents.

Amylins. Amylin is a peptide hormone synthesized by pancreatic β-cells that is co-secreted with insulin in response to nutrient intake. The sequence of amylin is highly preserved across mammalian species, with structural similarities to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), the calcitonins, the intermedins, and adrenomedullin, as known in the art. The glucoregulatory actions of amylin complement those of insulin by regulating the rate of glucose appearance in the circulation via suppression of nutrient-stimulated glucagon secretion and slowing gastric emptying. In insulin-treated patients with diabetes, pramlintide, a synthetic and equipotent analogue of human amylin, reduces postprandial glucose excursions by suppressing inappropriately elevated postprandial glucagon secretion and slowing gastric emptying. The sequences of rat amylin, human amylin and pramlintide follow:

rat amylin: (SEQ ID NO: 108) KCNTATCATQRLANFLVRSSNNLGPVLPPTNVGSNTY; human amylin: (SEQ ID NO: 109) KCNTATCATQRLANFLVHSSNNFGAILSSTNVGSNTY; Pramlintide: (SEQ ID NO: 110) KCNTATCATQRLANFLVHSSNNFGPILPPTNVGSNTY.

Davalintide. Davalintide, also known as “AC-2307” is a potent amylin agonist useful in the treatment of a variety of disease indications. See WO 2006/083254 and WO 2007/114838, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and for all purposes. Davalintide is a chimeric peptide, having an N-terminal loop region of amylin or calcitonin and analogs thereof, an alpha-helical region of at least a portion of an alpha-helical region of calcitonin or analogs thereof or an alpha-helical region having a portion of an amylin alpha-helical region and a calcitonin alpha-helical region or analog thereof, and a C-terminal tail region of amylin or calcitonin. The sequences of human calcitonin, salmon calcitonin and davalintide follow:

human calcitonin: (SEQ ID NO: 111) CGNLSTCMLGTYTQDFNKFHTFPQTAIGVGAP; salmon calcitonin: (SEQ ID NO: 112) CSNLSTCVLGKLSQELHKLQTYPRTNTGSGTP; davalintide: (SEQ ID NO: 113) KCNTATCVLGRLSQELHRLQTYPRTNTGSNTY.

Without wishing to be bound by any theory, it is believed that amylins and davalintide, and fragments and analogs thereof, can require C-terminal amidation to elicit a full biological response. It is understood that amylin compounds such as those described herein which include amylins and/or davalintide, and fragment and analogs thereof, can be amidated at the C-terminal.

“Amylin agonist compounds” include native amylin peptides, amylin analog peptides, and other compounds (e.g., small molecules) that have amylin agonist activity. The “amylin agonist compounds” can be derived from natural sources, can be synthetic, or can be derived from recombinant DNA techniques. Amylin agonist compounds have amylin agonist receptor binding activity and may comprise amino acids (e.g., natural, unnatural, or a combination thereof), peptide mimetics, chemical moieties, and the like. The skilled artisan will recognize amylin agonist compounds using amylin receptor binding assays or by measuring amylin agonist activity in soleus muscle assays. In one embodiment, amylin agonist compounds will have an IC₅₀ of about 200 nM or less, about 100 nM or less, or about 50 nM or less, in an amylin receptor binding assay, such as that described herein, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,411, and US Publication No. 2008/0176804, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties and for all purposes. In one embodiment, amylin agonist compounds will have an EC₅₀ of about 20 nM or less, about nM 15 or less, about nM 10 or less, or about nM 5 or less in a soleus muscle assay, such as that described herein and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,411. In one embodiment, the amylin agonist compound has at least 90% or 100% sequence identity to ^(25,28,29)Pro-human-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 53). In one embodiment, the amylin agonist compound is a peptide chimera of amylin (e.g., human amylin, rat amylin, and the like) and calcitonin (e.g., human calcitonin, salmon calcitonin, and the like). Suitable and exemplary amylin agonist compounds are also described in US Publication No. 2008/0274952, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and for all purposes.

By “amylin analog” as used herein is meant an amylin agonist that has at least 50% sequence identity, preferably at least 70% sequence identity, to a naturally-occurring form of amylin, either rat or human or from any other species, and is derived from them by modifications including insertions, substitutions, extensions, and/or deletions of the reference amino acid sequence.

The amylin analog sequence can have at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 90%, or 95% amino acid sequence identity with the reference amylin. In one aspect the analog has 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or even 16 amino acid substitutions, insertions, extensions, and/or deletions relative to the reference compound. In one embodiment, the amylin analog may comprise conservative or non-conservative amino acid substitutions (including non-natural amino acids and L and D forms). These analogs are preferably peptides, peptide derivatives or peptide mimics. Typical amylin analogs will be peptides, especially of 32-37 amino acids, e.g. 27 to 45, especially 28 to 38, and even 31-36.

Amylin analogs with identity to rat and human amylin include ^(25,28,29)Pro-h-amylin (pramlintide) (SEQ ID NO: 110); des-¹Lys-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 161); ²⁵Pro, ²⁶Val, ^(28,29)Pro-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 162); ¹⁸Arg, ^(25,28)Pro-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 163); des-¹Lys, ¹⁸Arg, ^(25,28)Pro-h amylin (SEQ ID NO: 164); ¹⁸Arg, ^(25,28,29)Pro-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 165); des-¹Lys, ¹⁸Arg, ^(25,28,29)Pro-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 166); des-¹Lys, ^(25,28,29)Pro-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 167); ²⁵Pro, ²⁶Val, ^(28,29)Pro-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 168); ²⁸Pro-h-amylin, 2,7-Cyclo-[²Asp, ⁷Lys]-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 169); ²⁻³⁷h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 170); ¹Ala-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 171); ²Ala-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 172); ^(2,7)Ala-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 173); ¹Ser-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 174); ²⁹Pro-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 175); ^(25,28)Pro-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 176); des-¹Lys, ^(25,28)Pro-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 177); ²³Leu, ²⁵Pro, ²⁶Val, ^(28,29)Pro-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 178); ²³Leu²⁵Pro²⁶Val²⁸Pro-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 179); des-¹Lys, ²³Leu, ²⁵Pro, ²⁶Val, ²⁸Pro-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 180); ¹⁸Arg, ²³Leu, ²⁵Pro, ²⁶Val, ²⁸Pro-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 181); ¹⁸Arg, ²³Leu, ^(25,28,29)Pro-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 182); ¹⁸Arg²³Leu, ^(25,28)Pro-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 183); ¹⁷Ile, ²³Leu, ^(25,28,29)Pro-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 184); ¹⁷Ile, ^(25,28,29)Pro-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 185); des-¹Lys, ¹⁷Ile, ²³Leu, ^(25,28,29)Pro-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 186); ¹⁷Ile, ¹⁸Arg, ²³Leu-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 187); ¹⁷Ile, ¹⁸Arg, ²³Leu, ²⁶Val, ²⁹Pro-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 188); ¹⁷Ile, ¹⁸Arg, ²³Leu, ²⁵Pro, ²⁶Val, ^(28,29)Pro-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 189); ¹³Thr, ²¹His, ²³Leu, ²⁶Ala, ²⁸Leu, ²⁹Pro, ³¹Asp-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 190); ¹³Thr, ²¹His, ²³Leu, ²⁶Ala, ²⁹Pro, ³¹Asp-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 191); des-¹Lys, ¹³Thr, ²¹His, ²³Leu, ²⁶Ala, ²⁸Pro, ³¹Asp-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 192); ¹³Thr, ¹⁸Arg, ²¹His, ²³Leu, ²⁶Ala, ²⁹Pro, ³¹Asp-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 193); ¹³Thr, ¹⁸Arg, ²¹His, ²³Leu, ^(28,29)Pro, ³¹Asp-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 194); and ¹³Thr, ¹⁸Arg, ²¹His, ²³Leu, ²⁵Pro, ²⁶Ala, ^(28,29)Pro, ³¹Asp-h-amylin (SEQ ID NO: 195).

Suitable and exemplary amylin agonist compounds are also described in PCT Patent Publication WO2010/085700.

Amylin analogs include amino acid sequences of residues 1-37 of Formula (I) following, wherein up to 25% of the amino acids set forth in Formula (I) may be deleted or substituted with a different amino acid:

(I) (SEQ ID NO: 800) X′-Xaa¹-Cys²-Asn³-Thr⁴-Ala⁵-Thr⁶-Cys⁷-Ala⁸-Thr⁹- Gln¹⁰-Arg¹¹-Leu¹²-Ala¹³-Asn¹⁴-Phe¹⁵-Leu¹⁶-Val¹⁷- His¹⁸-Ser¹⁹-Ser²⁰-Xaa²¹-Asn²²-Phe²³-Xaa²⁴-Xaa²⁵- Xaa²⁶-Xaa²⁷-Xaa²⁸-Xaa²⁹-Thr³⁰-Xaa³¹-Val³²-Gly³³- Ser³⁴-Asn³⁵-Thr³⁶-Tyr³⁷-X. In Formula (I), X′ is hydrogen, an N-terminal capping group, or a linker to a duration enhancing moiety. Xaa¹ is Lys or a bond, Xaa²¹ is Lys, Cys, or Asn, Xaa²⁴ is Lys, Cys, or Gly, Xaa²⁵ is Lys, Cys, or Pro, Xaa²⁶ is Lys, Cys, or Ile, Xaa²⁷ is Lys, Cys, or Leu, Xaa²⁸ is Lys, Cys, or Pro, Xaa²⁹ is Lys, Cys, or Pro and Xaa³¹ is Lys, Cys, or Asn. Further regarding Formula (I), the variable X represents a C-terminal functionality (e.g., a C-terminal cap). X is substituted or unsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted alkylamino, substituted or unsubstituted dialkylamino, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkylamino, substituted or unsubstituted arylamino, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylamino, substituted or unsubstituted alkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxy, or hydroxyl. If the C-terminal of the polypeptide component with the sequence of residues 1-37 of Formula (I) is capped with a functionality X, then X is preferably amine thereby forming a C-terminal amide. In some embodiments, up to 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45% or even 50% of the amino acids of residues 1-37 of Formula (I) are deleted or substituted in a polypeptide component according to Formula (I). In some embodiments, the amylin analog component has 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or even 16 amino acid substitutions relative to the amino acid sequence set forth in Formula (I). In some embodiments, the amylin analog has a sequence which has a defined sequence identity with respect to the residues 1-37 of the amino acid sequence according to Formula (I). In some embodiments, the sequence identity between an amylin analog described herein and residues 1-37 of Formula (I) is 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or even higher. In some embodiments, up to 50%, 45%, 40%, 35%, 30%, 25%, 20%, 15%, 10%, 5% or even less of the amino acids set forth in residues 1-37 of Formula (I) may be deleted or substituted with a different amino acid. In some embodiments, the sequence identity is within the range 75%-100%. In some embodiments, the sequence identity is within the range 75%-90%. In some embodiments, the sequence identity is within the range 80%-90%. In some embodiments, the sequence identity is at least 75%. In some embodiments, the amylin analog has the sequence of residues 1-37 of Formula (I).

In some embodiments, amylin analogs including those of Formula (I), form the basis of a polypeptide component to which one or more duration enhancing moieties are linked, optionally through a linker, to form an amylin polypeptide conjugate. Thus, the polypeptide component serves as a template (“polypeptide template”) to which is attached, preferably by covalent attachment, one or more duration enhancing moieties. Linkage of the duration enhancing moiety to the polypeptide component can be through a linker as described herein. Alternatively, linkage of the duration enhancing moiety to the polypeptide component can be via a direct covalent bond. The duration enhancing moiety can be a water soluble polymer as described herein. In some embodiments, a plurality of duration enhancing moieties are attached to the polypeptide component, in which case each linker to each duration enhancing moiety is independently selected from the linkers described herein.

Amylin analogs useful as polypeptide components described herein include, but are not limited to, the compounds set forth in residues 1-37 of Formula (I) provided in Table 3 below. Unless indicated to the contrary, all peptides described herein, including peptides having an expressly provided sequence, are contemplated in both free carboxylate and amidated forms.

TABLE 3 Component polypeptides useful in the compounds described herein. Cmpd Description (sequence) 101 KCNTATCATQRLANFLVRSSNNLGPVLPPTNVGSNTY-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 160) 102 CNTATCATQRLANFLVRSSNNLGPVLPPTNVGSNTY-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 801) ([desLys¹]-Cmpd 101) 103 KCNTATCATQRLANFLVRSSKNLGPVLPPTNVGSNTY-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 802) 104 CNTATCATQRLANFLVRSSKNLGPVLPPTNVGSNTY-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 803) ([desLys¹]-Cmpd 103) 105 KCNTATCATQRLANFLVRSSNNLGPKLPPTNVGSNTY-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 804) 106 CNTATCATQRLANFLVRSSNNLGPKLPPTNVGSNTY-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 805) ([desLys¹]-Cmpd 105) 107 KCNTATCATQRLANFLVRSSNNLGPVLPPTKVGSNTY-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 806) 108 CNTATCATQRLANFLVRSSNNLGPVLPPTKVGSNTY-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 807) ([desLys¹]-Cmpd 107) 109 KCNTATCATQRLANFLVHSSNNFGPILPPTNVGSNTY-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 808) 110 CNTATCATQRLANFLVHSSNNFGPILPPTNVGSNTY-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 809) ([desLys¹]-Cmpd 109) 111 CNTATCATQRLANFLVHSSKNFGPILPPTNVGSNTY-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 810) 112 CNTATCATQRLANFLVHSSNNFGPKLPPTNVGSNTY-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 811) 113 CNTATCATQRLANFLVHSSNNFGPILPPTKVGSNTY-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 812) 114 CNTATCATQRLANFLVHSSNNFKPILPPTNVGSNTY-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 813) 115 CNTATCATQRLANFLVHSSNNFGKILPPTNVGSNTY-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 814) 116 CNTATCATQRLANFLVHSSNNFGPIKPPTNVGSNTY-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 815) 117 CNTATCATQRLANFLVHSSNNFGPILKPTNVGSNTY-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 816) 118 CNTATCATQRLANFLVHSSNNFGPILPKTNVGSNTY-NH₂ (SEQ ID NO: 817)

The terms “linker” and the like, in the context of attachment of duration enhancing moieties to a polypeptide component in an amylin polypeptide conjugate described herein, means a divalent species (-L-) covalently bonded in turn to a polypeptide component having a valency available for bonding and to a duration enhancing moiety having a valency available for bonding. The available bonding site on the polypeptide component is conveniently a side chain residue (e.g., lysine, cysteine, aspartic acid, and homologs thereof). In some embodiments, the available bonding site on the polypeptide component is the side chain of a lysine or a cysteine residue. In some embodiments, the available bonding site on the polypeptide component is the N-terminal amine. In some embodiments, the available bonding site on the polypeptide component is the C-terminal carboxyl. In some embodiments, the available bonding site on the polypeptide component is a backbone atom thereof. As used herein, the term “linking amino acid residue” means an amino acid within residues 1-37 of Formula (I) to which a duration enhancing moiety is attached, optionally through a linker.

In some embodiments, compounds are provided having a linker covalently linking a polypeptide component with a duration enhancing moiety. The linker is optional; i.e., any linker may simply be a bond. In some embodiments, the linker is attached at a side chain of the polypeptide component. In some embodiments, the linker is attached to a backbone atom of the polypeptide component.

In another aspect, there is provided an amylin polypeptide conjugate, which is a derivative of pramlintide with SEQ ID NO:110 or an analog thereof, wherein the amino acid residue in position 1 is absent (i.e., des-Lys¹) and an amino acid residue in position 2 to 37 has been substituted with a lysine residue or cysteine residue and wherein said lysine residue or cysteine residue is linked to a polyethylene glycol polymer, optionally via a linker, wherein the amino acid numbering conforms with the amino acid number in SEQ ID NO:110.

In another aspect, the invention relates to an amylin polypeptide conjugate, which is a derivative of pramlintide with SEQ ID NO:110 or an analog thereof, wherein the amino acid residue in position 1 is absent (i.e., des-Lys¹) and wherein an amino acid residue in any one of position 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, or 37 is substituted with a lysine residue and wherein said lysine residue is linked to a polyethylene glycol polymer, optionally via a linker.

In another aspect, the invention relates to an amylin polypeptide conjugate, which is a derivative of pramlintide with SEQ ID NO:110 or an analog thereof, wherein the amino acid residue in position 1 is absent (i.e., des-Lys¹) and wherein an amino acid residue in any one of position 21, 24-29, or 31 is substituted with a lysine residue and wherein said lysine residue is linked to a polyethylene glycol polymer, optionally via a linker.

In another aspect, the invention relates to an amylin polypeptide conjugate, which is a derivative of pramlintide with SEQ ID NO:110 or an analog thereof, wherein the amino acid residue in position 1 is absent (i.e., des-Lys¹) and wherein an amino acid residue in position 21 is substituted with a lysine residue and wherein said lysine residue is linked to a polyethylene glycol polymer, optionally via a linker.

In another aspect, the invention relates to an amylin polypeptide conjugate, which is a derivative of pramlintide with SEQ ID NO:110 or an analog thereof, wherein the amino acid residue in position 1 is absent (i.e., des-Lys¹) and wherein an amino acid residue in position 24 is substituted with a lysine residue and wherein said lysine residue is linked to a polyethylene glycol polymer, optionally via a linker.

In another aspect, the invention relates to an amylin polypeptide conjugate, which is a derivative of pramlintide with SEQ ID NO:110 or an analog thereof, wherein the amino acid residue in position 1 is absent (i.e., des-Lys¹) and wherein an amino acid residue in position 25 is substituted with a lysine residue and wherein said lysine residue is linked to a polyethylene glycol polymer, optionally via a linker.

In another aspect, the invention relates to an amylin polypeptide conjugate, which is a derivative of pramlintide with SEQ ID NO:110 or an analog thereof, wherein the amino acid residue in position 1 is absent (i.e., des-Lys¹) and wherein an amino acid residue in position 26 is substituted with a lysine residue and wherein said lysine residue is linked to a polyethylene glycol polymer, optionally via a linker.

In another aspect, the invention relates to an amylin polypeptide conjugate, which is a derivative of pramlintide with SEQ ID NO:110 or an analog thereof, wherein the amino acid residue in position 1 is absent (i.e., des-Lys¹) and wherein an amino acid residue in position 27 is substituted with a lysine residue and wherein said lysine residue is linked to a polyethylene glycol polymer, optionally via a linker.

In another aspect, the invention relates to an amylin polypeptide conjugate, which is a derivative of pramlintide with SEQ ID NO:110 or an analog thereof, wherein the amino acid residue in position 1 is absent (i.e., des-Lys¹) and wherein an amino acid residue in position 28 is substituted with a lysine residue and wherein said lysine residue is linked to a polyethylene glycol polymer, optionally via a linker.

In another aspect, the invention relates to an amylin polypeptide conjugate, which is a derivative of pramlintide with SEQ ID NO:110 or an analog thereof, wherein the amino acid residue in position 1 is absent (i.e., des-Lys¹) and wherein an amino acid residue in position 29 is substituted with a lysine residue and wherein said lysine residue is linked to a polyethylene glycol polymer, optionally via a linker.

In another aspect, the invention relates to an amylin polypeptide conjugate, which is a derivative of pramlintide with SEQ ID NO:110 or an analog thereof, wherein the amino acid residue in position 1 is absent (i.e., des-Lys¹) and wherein an amino acid residue in position 31 is substituted with a lysine residue and wherein said lysine residue is linked to a polyethylene glycol polymer, optionally via a linker.

In some embodiments, the duration enhancing moiety is a water-soluble polymer. A “water soluble polymer” means a polymer which is sufficiently soluble in water under physiologic conditions of e.g., temperature, ionic concentration and the like, as known in the art, to be useful for the methods described herein. A water soluble polymer can increase the solubility of a peptide or other biomolecule to which such water soluble polymer is attached. Indeed, such attachment has been proposed as a means for improving the circulating life, water solubility and/or antigenicity of administered proteins, in vivo. See e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,337; U.S. Published Appl. No. 2008/0032408. Many different water-soluble polymers and attachment chemistries have been used towards this goal, such as polyethylene glycol, copolymers of ethylene glycol/propylene glycol, carboxymethylcellulose, dextran, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, poly-1,3-dioxolane, poly-1,3,6-trioxane, ethylene/maleic anhydride copolymer, polyaminoacids (either homopolymers or random copolymers), and the like.

In some embodiments, the linked duration enhancing moiety includes a polyethylene glycol. Polyethylene glycol (“PEG”) has been used in efforts to obtain therapeutically usable polypeptides. See e.g., Zalipsky, S., 1995, Bioconjugate Chemistry, 6:150-165; Mehvar, R., 2000, J. Pharm. Pharmaceut. Sci., 3:125-136. As appreciated by one of skill in the art, the PEG backbone [(CH₂CH₂—O—)_(n), n: number of repeating monomers] is flexible and amphiphilic. Without wishing to be bound by any theory or mechanism of action, the long, chain-like PEG molecule or moiety is believed to be heavily hydrated and in rapid motion when in an aqueous medium. This rapid motion is believed to cause the PEG to sweep out a large volume and prevents the approach and interference of other molecules. As a result, when attached to another chemical entity (such as a peptide), PEG polymer chains can protect such chemical entity from immune response and other clearance mechanisms. As a result, pegylation can lead to improved drug efficacy and safety by optimizing pharmacokinetics, increasing bioavailability, and decreasing immunogenicity and dosing frequency. “Pegylation” refers in the customary sense to conjugation of a PEG moiety with another compound. For example, attachment of PEG has been shown to protect proteins against proteolysis. See e.g., Blomhoff, H. K. et al., 1983, Biochim Biophys Acta, 757:202-208. Unless expressly indicated to the contrary, the terms “PEG,” “polyethylene glycol polymer” and the like refer to polyethylene glycol polymer and derivatives thereof, including methoxy-PEG (mPEG).

A variety of means have been used to attach polymer moieties such as PEG and related polymers to reactive groups found on the protein. See e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,179,337 ; 4,002,531; Abuchowski et al., 1981, in “Enzymes as Drugs,” J. S. Holcerberg and J. Roberts, (Eds.), pp. 367-383; Zalipsky, S., 1995, Bioconjugate Chemistry, 6:150-165. The use of PEG and other polymers to modify proteins has been discussed. See e.g., Cheng, T.-L. et al., 1999m, Bioconjugate Chem., 10:520-528; Belcheva, N. et al., 1999, Bioconjugate Chem., 10:932-937; Bettinger, T. et al., 1998, Bioconjugate Chem., 9:842-846; Huang, S.-Y. et al., 1998, Bioconjugate Chem., 9:612-617; Xu, B. et al. 1998, Langmuir, 13:2447-2456; Schwarz, J. B. et al., 1999, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 121:2662-2673; Reuter, J. D. et al., 1999, Bioconjugate Chem., 10:271-278; Chan, T.-H. et al., 1997, J. Org. Chem., 62:3500-3504. Typical attachment sites in proteins include primary amino groups, such as those on lysine residues or at the N-terminus, thiol groups, such as those on cysteine side-chains, and carboxyl groups, such as those on glutamate or aspartate residues or at the C-terminus. Common sites of attachment are to the sugar residues of glycoproteins, cysteines or to the N-terminus and lysines of the target polypeptide. The terms “pegylated” and the like refer to covalent attachment of polyethylene glycol to a polypeptide or other biomolecule, optionally through a linker as described herein and/or as known in the art.

In some embodiments, a PEG moiety in an amylin polypeptide conjugate described herein has a nominal molecular weight within a specified range. As customary in the art, the size of a PEG moiety is indicated by reference to the nominal molecular weight, typically provided in kilodaltons (kD). The molecular weight is calculated in a variety of ways known in the art, including number, weight, viscosity and “Z” average molecular weight. It is understood that polymers, such as PEG and the like, exist as a distribution of molecule weights about a nominal average value.

Exemplary of the terminology for molecular weight for PEGs, the term “mPEG40KD” refers to a methoxy polyethylene glycol polymer having a nominal molecular weight of 40 kilodaltons. Reference to PEGs of other molecular weights follows this convention. In some embodiments, the PEG moiety has a nominal molecular weight in the range 10-100 KD, 20-80 KD, 20-60 KD, or 20-40 KD. In some embodiments, the PEG moiety has a nominal molecular weight of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95 or even 100 KD. Preferably, the PEG moiety has a molecular weight of 20, 25, 30, 40, 60 or 80 KD.

PEG molecules useful for derivatization of polypeptides are typically classified into linear, branched and Warwick (i.e., PolyPEG®) classes of PEGs, as known in the art. Unless expressly indicated to the contrary, the PEG moieties described herein are linear PEGs. Furthermore, the terms “two arm branched,” “Y-shaped” and the like refer to branched PEG moieties, as known in the art. The term “Warwick” in the context of PEGs, also known as “comb” or “comb-type” PEGs, refers to a variety of multi-arm PEGs attached to a backbone, typically poly(methacrylate), as known in the art. Regarding nomenclature including conventions employed in the table provided herein, absent indication to the contrary a PEG moiety is attached to the backbone of the peptide. For example, Cmpd 119 is the result of the conjugation of mPEG40KD to the N-terminal nitrogen of Cmpd 101. Similarly, Cmpd 120 is the result of conjugation of mPEG40KD to the N-terminal nitrogen of Cmpd 102. Standard single letter abbreviations for amino acids can be used, as can standard three-letter abbreviations. For example, Cmpd 124 is an analog of Cmpd 110 wherein the residue at position 26 of Cmpd 109 is substituted for lysine, and the pendant amine functionality of lysine 26 (i.e., K²⁶) is conjugated with a PEG40KD moiety. Exemplary compounds are provided in Table 4 below.

TABLE 4 Pegylated compounds Cmpd Description 119 mPEG40KD-Cmpd 101 (SEQ ID NO: 196) 120 mPEG40KD-Cmpd 102 (SEQ ID NO: 197) 121 [K²¹(mPEG40KD)]-Cmpd 103 (SEQ ID NO: 198) 122 [K²¹(mPEG40KD)]-Cmpd 104 (SEQ ID NO: 199) 123 [K²⁶(mPEG40KD)]-Cmpd 105 (SEQ ID NO: 200) 124 [K²⁶(mPEG40KD)]-Cmpd 106 (SEQ ID NO: 201) 125 [K³¹(mPEG40KD)]-Cmpd 107 (SEQ ID NO: 202) 126 [K³¹(mPEG40KD)]-Cmpd 108 (SEQ ID NO: 203) 127 [K²⁶(Y-shaped-mPEG40KD)]-Cmpd 105 (SEQ ID NO: 204) 128 [K²¹(mPEG40KD)]-Cmpd 111 (SEQ ID NO: 205) 129 [K²⁶(mPEG40KD)]-Cmpd 112 (SEQ ID NO: 206) 130 [K³¹(mPEG40KD)]-Cmpd 113 (SEQ ID NO: 207) 131 [K²⁶(Y-shaped-mPEG40KD)]-Cmpd 112 (SEQ ID NO: 208) 132 [K²⁴(mPEG40KD)]-Cmpd 114 (SEQ ID NO: 209) 133 [K²⁵(mPEG40KD)]-Cmpd 115 (SEQ ID NO: 210) 134 [K²⁷(mPEG40KD)]-Cmpd 116 (SEQ ID NO: 211) 135 [K²⁸(mPEG40KD)]-Cmpd 117 (SEQ ID NO: 212) 136 [K²⁹(mPEG40KD)]-Cmpd 118 (SEQ ID NO: 213)

Amylins and amylin analogs to which a chemical moiety is attached are amylin derivatives. Amylin derivatives may constitute amylins to which a chemical modification has been made of one or more of its amino acid side groups, α-carbon atoms, terminal amino group, or terminal carboxylic acid group. A chemical modification includes, but is not limited to, attaching one or more chemical moieties, creating new bonds, and removing one or more chemical moieties. Modifications at amino acid side groups include, without limitation, alkylation, acylation, ester formation, amide formation, maleimide coupling, acylation of lysine ε-amino groups, N-alkylation of arginine, histidine, or lysine, alkylation of glutamic or aspartic carboxylic acid groups, and deamidation of glutamine or asparagine. Modifications of the terminal amino include, without limitation, the desamino, N-lower alkyl, N-di-lower alkyl, and N-acyl modifications. Modifications of the terminal amino include, without limitation, the desamino, N-lower alkyl, N-di-lower alkyl, and N-acyl modifications, such as alkylacyls, branched alkylacyls, alkylaryl-acyls. Modifications of the terminal carboxy group include, without limitation, the amide, lower alkyl amide, dialkyl amide, arylamide, alkylarylamide and lower alkyl ester modifications. Lower alkyl is C₁-C₄ alkyl. Furthermore, one or more side groups, or terminal groups, may be protected by protective groups known to the ordinarily-skilled synthetic chemist. The α-carbon of an amino acid may be mono- or dimethylated.

Amylin derivatives include amylins and amylin analogs conjugated to one or more water soluble polymer molecules, such as polyethylene glycol (“PEG”), as described above, or fatty acid chains of various lengths (e.g., stearyl, palmitoyl, octanoyl), by the addition of polyamino acids, such as poly-his, poly-arg, poly-lys, and poly-ala, or by addition of small molecule substituents include short alkyls and constrained alkyls (e.g., branched, cyclic, fused, adamantyl), and aromatic groups. In some embodiments, the water soluble polymer molecules will have a molecular weight ranging from about 500 Daltons to about 60,000 Daltons. See, e.g., PCT Patent Publications WO 2007/104789, WO 2009/034119, and WO 2010/046357 for amylin derivatives suitable for use as anti-obesity agents in combination with the engineered polypeptides of the invention.

Such polymer-conjugations may occur singularly at the N- or C-terminus or at the side chains of amino acid residues within the sequence of an amylin or amylin analog as disclosed herein. Alternatively, there may be multiple sites of derivatization along the amino acid sequence of such an amylin or amylin analog. Substitution of one or more amino acids with lysine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, or cysteine may provide additional sites for derivatization. In some embodiments, an amylin or amylin analog may be conjugated to one, two, or three polymer molecules.

In some embodiments, the water soluble polymer molecules are linked to an amino, carboxyl, or thiol group, and may be linked by N or C termini, or at the side chains of lysine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, or cysteine. Alternatively, the water soluble polymer molecules may be linked with diamine and dicarboxylic groups. In some embodiments, an amylin or amylin analog is conjugated to one, two, or three PEG molecules through an epsilon amino group on a lysine amino acid.

It has been surprisingly discovered that the engineered polypeptides of the invention provide beneficial synergistic anti-obesity effects to both moderately obese (BMI equal to or greater than 30) and severely obese (BMI equal to or greater than 35) subjects when administered in combination with certain other anti-obesity compounds. As described previously in, e.g., U.S. Published Appl. No. 2008/0207512, it has been found that a state of leptin resistance exists in obese subjects. See also, e.g., Tenenbaum, D., HHMI Bulletin, pp. 25-27 (March 2003); Chicurel, M., Nature, Vol. 404, pp. 538-540 (2000); Scarpace et al., Diabetalogia, Vol. 48, pp. 1075-1083 (2005); and Bays et al., Obesity Research, Vol. 12, (8), pp. 1197-1211 (2004). This leptin resistance, characterized at least in part by the presence of abnormally high serum leptin levels in obese subjects, makes these subjects unable to respond effectively to leptin, whether endogenous or exogenously administered. It had been previously found that this leptin resistance could be overcome in moderately obese subjects, with a combination therapy including a leptin (e.g., metreleptin) and certain other anti-obesity compounds. See e.g., U.S. Published Appl. No. 2008/0207512. It has further been found that the synergistic anti-obesity effects of the leptin combination therapy are absent in severely obese, high BMI subjects, presumably due to a severe leptin resistance. The inventors have surprisingly discovered that the engineered compounds of the invention are able to overcome even severe leptin resistance when administered in combination with certain other anti-obesity compounds. Accordingly, also provided by the invention are methods of treating obesity and obesity related conditions, disorders, and diseases in subjects, including high BMI subjects, by the administration of at least two different anti-obesity agents, wherein one anti-obesity agent is an engineered polypeptide of the invention and another anti-obesity agent is an amylin, an amylin analog, an amylin agonist, or an amylin derivative (i.e. an amylin agent).

In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods of treating obesity in subjects in need thereof comprising administration of a first anti-obesity agent selected from an engineered polypeptide of the invention in combination with a second anti-obesity agent selected from an amylin, an amylin analog, an amylin agonist, or an amylin derivative, wherein the administration of the agents result in a synergistic effect as compared to administration of either agent alone.

In one aspect, methods of the invention provide a synergistic anti-obesity effect among the administered agents. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, administration of a combination of anti-obesity agents results in an effect, e.g., a reduction in nutrient availability, reduction in body weight, reduction in food intake, increase in metabolism, which is greater than the combination of the results of administration of the anti-obesity agent alone (monotherapy).

“Reduced nutrient availability” is meant to include any means by which the body reduces the nutrients available to the body to store as fat. In other words, reducing nutrient availability may be by means that include, but are not limited to, reducing appetite, increasing satiety, affecting food choice/taste aversion, increasing metabolism, and/or decreasing or inhibiting food absorption. Exemplary mechanisms that may be affected include delayed gastric emptying or decreased absorption of food in the intestines.

As used herein, a “subject in need thereof” includes subjects who are overweight, obese, or desirous of losing weight. Obese subjects include both the moderately obese, low BMI population and the severely obese, high BMI population. In addition, subjects who are insulin resistant, glucose intolerant, or have any form of diabetes mellitus (e.g., type 1, 2 or gestational diabetes) can benefit from the methods of the invention.

By “metabolic rate” is meant the amount of energy liberated/expended per unit of time. Metabolism per unit time can be estimated by food consumption, energy released as heat, or oxygen used in metabolic processes. It is generally desirable to have a higher metabolic rate when one wants to lose weight. For example, a person with a high metabolic rate may be able to expend more energy (e.g., the body burns more calories) to perform an activity than a person with a low metabolic rate for that activity.

As used herein, “lean mass” or “lean body mass” refers to muscle and bone. Lean body mass does not necessarily indicate fat free mass. Lean body mass contains a small percentage of fat (roughly 3%) within the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), marrow of bones, and internal organs. Lean body mass is measured in terms of density. Methods of measuring fat mass and lean mass include, but are not limited to, underwater weighing, air displacement plethysmograph, x-ray, DEXA scans, MRIs and CT scans. In certain embodiments, fat mass and lean mass is measured using underwater weighing as known in the art.

By “fat distribution” is meant the location of fat deposits in the body. Such locations of fat deposition include, for example, subcutaneous, visceral and ectopic fat depots.

By “subcutaneous fat” is meant the deposit of lipids just below the skin's surface. The amount of subcutaneous fat in a subject can be measured using any method available for the measurement of subcutaneous fat. Methods of measuring subcutaneous fat are known in the art, for example, those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,886, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

By “visceral fat” is meant the deposit of fat as intra-abdominal adipose tissue. Visceral fat surrounds vital organs and can be metabolized by the liver to produce blood cholesterol. Visceral fat has been associated with increased risks of conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases.

By “ectopic fat storage” is meant lipid deposits within and around tissues and organs that constitute the lean body mass (e.g., skeletal muscle, heart, liver, pancreas, kidneys, blood vessels). Generally, ectopic fat storage is an accumulation of lipids outside classical adipose tissue depots in the body.

As used herein, and as well-understood in the art, “treatment” is an approach for obtaining beneficial or desired results, including clinical results. “Treating” or “palliating” a disease, disorder, or condition means that the extent and/or undesirable clinical manifestations of a condition, disorder, or a disease state are lessened and/or time course of the progression is slowed or lengthened, as compared to not treating the disorder. For example, in treating obesity, a decrease in body weight, e.g., at least a 5% decrease in body weight, is an example of a desirable treatment result. For purposes of this invention, beneficial or desired clinical results include, but are not limited to, alleviation or amelioration of one or more symptoms, diminishment of extent of disease, stabilized (i.e., not worsening) state of disease, delay or slowing of disease progression, amelioration or palliation of the disease state, and remission (whether partial or total), whether detectable or undetectable. “Treatment” can also mean prolonging survival as compared to expected survival if not receiving treatment. Further, treating does not necessarily occur by administration of one dose, but often occurs upon administration of a series of doses. Thus, a therapeutically effective amount, an amount sufficient to palliate, or an amount sufficient to treat a disease, disorder, or condition may be administered in one or more administrations.

As used herein, the term “therapeutically effective amount” means the amount of the active compounds in the composition that will elicit the biological or medical response in a tissue, system, subject, or human that is being sought by the researcher, veterinarian, medical doctor or other clinician, which includes alleviation of the symptoms of the disorder being treated. The novel methods of treatment of this invention are for disorders known to those skilled in the art.

As used herein, the term “prophylactically effective amount” means the amount of the active compounds in the composition that will elicit the biological or medical response in a tissue, system, subject, or human that is being sought by the researcher, veterinarian, medical doctor or other clinician, to prevent the onset of obesity or an obesity-related disorder, condition or disease in subjects as risk for obesity or the obesity-related disorder, condition or disease.

In another aspect of the present invention, methods for reducing the risk of developing metabolic disorders are provided, where the method comprises administering to the subject a combination of anti-obesity agents in effective amounts to reduce the weight of a subject.

In some embodiments of the invention, methods of the invention are used to increase the metabolic rate in a subject, decrease a reduction in the metabolic rate in a subject, or preserve the metabolic rate in a subject. In certain embodiments, the metabolic rate may involve the preferential use of the body's fat as an energy source over lean body tissue. In one aspect, lean body mass is not decreased following administration of the combination of anti-obesity agents. In another aspect, a reduction in the lean body mass is lessened or prevented following administration of the combination of anti-obesity agents. In still another aspect, lean body mass is increased following administration of the combination of anti-obesity agents. Such preference for fat as the energy source may be determined by comparing the amount of fatty tissue to lean body tissue, ascertained by measuring total body weight and fat content at the beginning and end of the treatment period. An increase in metabolic rate is a higher level of the use of calories or another energy source by a subject over a period of time compared with the level of use of calories or other energy source by the subject over another period of time under substantially similar or identical conditions without administration of the combination of anti-obesity agents. In certain embodiments, the metabolic rate is increased at least about 5% in a subject, in other embodiments, the metabolic rate is increased at least about 10%, 15%, 20% 25%, 30%, or 35% in a subject compared with the level of use of calories or other energy source by the subject over another period of time under substantially similar or identical conditions without administration of the combination of anti-obesity agents. The increase in metabolic rate can be measured using a respiratory calorimeter, for example. An effective amount of the anti-obesity agents as used in these embodiments is an amount of each agent effective to increase the metabolic rate in a subject when administered in combination compared to a subject not receiving the agents or only one of the agents.

In another embodiment, a method is provided to reduce a decrease in metabolic rate in a subject. Such a decrease in metabolic rate can be the result of any condition or nutritional or physical regimen that leads to a reduction in metabolic rate, for example, due to a reduced calorie diet, a restricted diet, or weight loss. A restricted diet includes allowances or prohibitions, or both on the types of food or the amounts of food or both permitted in a diet, not necessarily based on calories. For example, as in individual diets, the body compensates with a reduced metabolic rate based on the lower caloric intake. In essence, the body down-regulates the requirement for food, thereby subsisting on less food. As dieting continues, the threshold for caloric intake is reduced. When dieting has ended, the individual typically gains weight while eating a normal diet because of the lowered caloric intake threshold and lower-basal metabolic rate (NIH Technology Assessment Conference Panel (1992) Ann. Intern. Med. 116:942-949; Wadden (1993) Ann. Intern. Med. 119:688-693). In one aspect, a method is provided to reduce the loss of metabolic rate in a subject, where the loss of metabolic rate is the result of a reduced calorie diet or weight loss. By using such a method, the subject's reduction in metabolic rate is decreased by at least about 10%, 15%, 20% 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 95% in a subject. For such methods, it may be desirable to administer the combination of anti-obesity agents at the time the condition or nutritional or physical regimen is initiated which leads to a loss or reduction in metabolic rate. However, it is also contemplated that administration of the agents is commenced before the condition or nutritional or physical regimen is initiated. In one instance, metabolic rate is measured using a respiratory calorimeter. An effective amount of the anti-obesity agents of as used in this embodiment is an amount of each agent effective to decrease the reduction of the metabolic rate in a subject when administered in combination.

In another aspect, methods for reducing metabolic plateaus are provided, where a method comprises administering effective amounts of anti-obesity agents in combination to a subject. In certain embodiments, the subject is losing weight, or has lost weight, for example, due to a reduced calorie diet, increased exercise or a combination thereof. By “metabolic plateau” is meant time intervals of steady metabolic rate while the body adjusts to changes in caloric or energy input. Changes in caloric input or expenditure can be the result of, for example, reduced calorie diets or increased physical activity. Such plateaus can be observed, for example, during a weight loss regimen when weight loss slows or stops. In certain embodiments, a method of the present invention reduces the duration of a metabolic plateau in a subject compared with the duration of metabolic plateaus in an otherwise identical subject over the same period of time under substantially similar or identical conditions without administration of the combination of anti-obesity agents. In other embodiments, a method of the present invention reduces the frequency of metabolic plateaus compared with the frequency of metabolic plateaus in an otherwise identical subject over the same period of time under substantially similar or identical conditions without administration of the combination of anti-obesity agents. In still other embodiments, a method of the present invention delays the onset of a metabolic plateau compared with the onset of a metabolic plateau in an otherwise identical subject over the same period of time under substantially similar or identical conditions without administration of the combination of anti-obesity agents. In certain embodiments, metabolic plateaus are identified by charting periods of reduced or no weight loss. In certain embodiments, at least one metabolic plateau is reduced. In other embodiments, at least two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten metabolic plateaus are reduced. In another aspect, metabolic plateaus are delayed one day as compared to a subject not administered the combination of anti-obesity agents under identical or similar conditions. In other aspects, metabolic plateaus are delayed 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 1 week, 10 days, 2 weeks or 3 weeks in a subject.

In yet other embodiments, a method is provided to preserve the metabolic rate in a subject. In certain embodiments, the subject may be at risk of losing metabolic rate, for example, due to the initiation of a reduced calorie diet, restricted diet, or anticipated weight loss. A preservation of metabolic rate is a maintenance of the level of the use of calories or another energy source by a subject over a period of time compared with the level of use of calories or other energy source by an otherwise identical subject over the same period of time under substantially similar or identical conditions without administration of the combination of anti-obesity agents. In one aspect, the metabolic rate is maintained within 15% of the subject's metabolic rate prior to the initiation of the event that results in the decrease in metabolic rate. In other aspects, the metabolic rate is maintained within 10%, within 7%, within 5%, within 3% or less of the subject's metabolic rate. In one aspect, the combination of anti-obesity agents is administered at the initiation of a reduced calorie diet, restricted diet, or exercise regimen.

Metabolic rates can be assessed using any method available for determining such rates, for example by using a respiratory calorimeter. Such methods and devices for assaying metabolic rates are known in the art and are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,572,208, 4,856,531, 6,468,222, 6,616,615, 6,013,009, and 6,475,158. Alternatively, the metabolic rate of an animal can be assessed by measuring the amount of lean tissue versus fatty tissue catabolized by the animal following the diet period. Thus, total body weight and fat content can be measured at the end of the dietary period. In rats, a frequently used method to determine total body fat is to surgically remove and weigh the retroperitoneal fat pad, a body of fat located in the retroperitoneum, the area between the posterior abdominal wall and the posterior parietal peritoneum. The pad weight is considered to be directly related to percent body fat of the animal. Since the relationship between body weight and body fat in rats is linear, obese animals have a correspondingly higher percent of body fat and retroperitoneal fat pad weight.

In another aspect of the present invention, methods for reducing fat mass by increasingA the metabolic rate in a subject are provided, where the methods comprise administering a combination of anti-obesity agents in amounts effective to reduce fat mass by increasing the subject's metabolic rate. Fat mass can be expressed as a percentage of the total body mass. In some aspects, the fat mass is reduced by at least 1%, at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, or at least 25% over the course of treatment. In one aspect, the subject's lean mass is not decreased over the course of the treatment. In another aspect, the subject's lean mass is maintained or increased over the course of the treatment. In another aspect, the subject is on a reduced calorie diet or restricted diet. By “reduced calorie diet” is meant that the subject is ingesting fewer calories per day than compared to the same subject's normal diet. In one instance, the subject is consuming at least 50 fewer calories per day. In other instances, the subject is consuming at least 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, or 1000 fewer calories per day.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, a method for altering the fat distribution in a subject is provided where the method comprises administering a combination of anti-obesity agents in amounts effective to alter fat distribution in the subject. In one aspect, the alteration results from an increased metabolism of visceral or ectopic fat, or both in the subject. In some embodiments, the method involves the metabolism of visceral or ectopic fat or both at a rate of at least about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, or 50% greater than for subcutaneous fat. In one aspect, the methods result in a favorable fat distribution. In certain embodiments, favorable fat distribution is an increased ratio of subcutaneous fat to visceral fat, ectopic fat, or both. In one aspect, the method involves an increase in lean body mass, for example, as a result of an increase in muscle cell mass.

In other embodiments, methods for reducing the amount of subcutaneous fat in a subject are provided, wherein the method comprises administering, to a subject in need thereof, a combination of anti-obesity agents in amounts effective to reduce the amount of subcutaneous fat in the subject. In one instance, the amount of subcutaneous fat is reduced in a subject by at least about 5%. In other instances, the amount of subcutaneous fat is reduced by at least about 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30% 40%, or 50% compared to the subject prior to administration of the anti-obesity agents.

The methods described herein can be used to reduce the amount of visceral fat in a subject. In one instance, the visceral fat is reduced in a subject by at least about 5%. In other instances, the visceral fat is reduced in the subject by at least about 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30% 40%, or 50% compared to the subject prior to administration of the combination of anti-obesity agents. Visceral fat can be measured through any means available to determine the amount of visceral fat in a subject. Such methods include, for example, abdominal tomography by means of CT scanning and Mitt Other methods for determining visceral fat are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,864,415, 6,850,797, and 6,487,445.

In certain embodiments, a method for preventing the accumulation of ectopic fat or reducing the amount of ectopic fat in a subject is provided, wherein the method comprises administering, to a subject in need thereof, a combination of anti-obesity agents in amounts effective to prevent accumulation of ectopic fat or to reduce the amount of ectopic fat in the subject. In one instance, the amount of ectopic fat is reduced in a subject by at least about 5% compared to the subject prior to administration of the combination of anti-obesity agents. In other instances, the amount of ectopic fat is reduced in a subject by at least about 10%, or by at least about 15%, 20%, 25%, 30% 40%, or 50%. Alternatively, the amount of ectopic fat is proportionally reduced 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% in comparison to subcutaneous fat in a subject. Ectopic fat can be measured in a subject using any method available for measuring ectopic fat.

In other embodiments, methods are provided for producing a more favorable fat distribution in a subject, where the method comprises administering to a subject a combination of anti-obesity agents in amounts effective to produce a favorable fat distribution. In certain embodiments, administration of a combination of anti-obesity agents reduces the amount of visceral fat or ectopic fat, or both, in a subject. For example, administration of a combination of anti-obesity agents, where at least one anti-obesity agent that acts upon forebrain structures involved in food intake or body weight modulation or both in combination with administration of at least one anti-obesity agent that acts upon hindbrain structures involved in food intake or body weight modulation or both. In certain embodiments, the methods preferentially reduce the amount of visceral or ectopic fat, or a combination of both, over the reduction in subcutaneous fat. Such methods result in a higher ratio of subcutaneous fat to visceral fat or ectopic fat. Such improved ratios may result in a reduced risk of the development of cardiovascular diseases, polycystic ovary syndrome, metabolic syndrome, or any combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, ectopic or visceral fat is metabolized at a rate 5% greater than subcutaneous fat. In other embodiments, ectopic or visceral fat is metabolized at a rate at least 10% 15%, 20%, 25%, 30% 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% greater than subcutaneous fat.

In still another aspect, methods of the invention include the use of a therapeutically effective amount of a combination of anti-obesity agents administered in combination with glucocortico steroids. Glucocortico steroids have the adverse effect of increasing fat mass and decreasing lean mass. Accordingly, it is contemplated that the anti-obesity agent combination can be used in conjunction with glucocortico steroids under conditions where glucocortico steroid use is beneficial.

In still another aspect, methods of the invention include the use of a therapeutically effective amount of one anti-obesity agent or a combination of anti-obesity agents administered in combination with a therapeutic agent selected from orlistat, phentermine, topiramate, CONTRAVE, and QNEXA. In some embodiments, the methods of the invention include the use of a therapeutically effective amount of an engineered polypeptide of the invention in combination with a therapeutic agent selected from orlistat, phentermine, topiramate, CONTRAVE, and QNEXA. In other embodiments, the methods of the invention include the use of a therapeutically effective amount of an amylin, an amylin analog, an amylin agonist, or an amylin derivative in combination with a therapeutic agent selected from orlistat, phentermine, topiramate, CONTRAVE, and QNEXA. In other embodiments, the methods of the invention include the use of a therapeutically effective amount of an engineered compound of the invention in combination with an amylin, an amylin analog, an amylin agonist, or an amylin derivative and a therapeutic agent selected from orlistat, phentermine, topiramate, CONTRAVE, and QNEXA.

Also provided are methods to reduce weight in a morbidly obese subject by first reducing the subject's weight to a level below that of being morbidly obese, then administering to the subject a combination of anti-obesity agents in effective amounts to further reduce the subject's weight. Methods for reducing a subject's weight to below that of morbid obesity include reducing caloric intake, increasing physical activity, drug therapy, bariatric surgery, such as gastric bypass surgery, or any combinations of the preceeding methods. In one aspect, administering the combination of anti-obesity agents further reduces the weight of the subject. In other embodiments, methods are provided for reducing the body mass index in a subject having a body mass index of 40 or less by administering a combination of anti-obesity agents in effective amounts to further reduce the subject's weight.

By reducing weight it is meant that the subject loses a portion of his/her total body weight over the course of treatment, whether the course of treatment be days, weeks, months or years. Alternatively, reducing weight can be defined as a decrease in proportion of fat mass to lean mass (in other words, the subject has lost fat mass, but maintained or gained lean mass, without necessarily a corresponding loss in total body weight). An effective amount of the anti-obesity agents administered in combination in these embodiments is an amount effective to reduce a subject's body weight over the course of the treatment, or alternatively an amount effective to reduce the subject's percentage of fat mass over the course of the treatment. In certain embodiments, the subject's body weight is reduced, over the course of treatment, by at least about 1%, by at least about 5%, by at least about 10%, by at least about 15%, or by at least about 20%. Alternatively, the subject's percentage of fat mass is reduced, over the course of treatment, by at least 1%, at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, or at least 25%.

In certain embodiments, methods of reducing weight include improved adherence to weight maintenance. Without wishing to be bound by any theory, the restoration of leptin responsiveness achieved by the administration of anti-obesity agents as described herein overcomes a critical challenge for obese subjects. In prior weight loss methods, leptin levels may still be higher than normal even at a reduced body weight, making it difficult for subjects to maintain the weight loss. The methods described herein include not only methods of reducing weight, but also the component of improved adherence to weight maintenance.

In certain embodiments, methods of reducing nutrient availability, e.g., reducing weight, in a subject comprise administering to the subject an effective amount of the anti-obesity agents in a bolus dose one or more times a day. A bolus dose is an intermittent dosage of medicine (as opposed to a continuous infusion). A subject can be administered one or more bolus doses per day. The bolus dose can be the same no matter when it is administered to the subject, or can be adjusted such that the subject is administered a larger bolus dose at certain times of the day as compared to others. Administration of an agent in certain formulations, e.g., sustained-release formulations, a bolus dose can be administered less frequently, for example, once every three days, once per week, twice a month, once every month. Furthermore, the time between bolus doses is preferably long enough to allow the drug administered in the previous bolus dose to clear the subject's blood stream.

In other embodiments, methods of reducing nutrient availability, e.g., reducing weight, in a subject comprise administering to the subject an effective amount of the anti-obesity agents in continuous doses. By continuous dose it is intended to mean the continuous infusion of the drug by, for example, intravenous injection or a transdermal patch. Alternatively, a continuous dose can be administered orally in the form of a controlled release capsule or tablet which releases the drug into the subject's system over a period of time. When administered by a continuous dose, the drug is released over a period of about 1 hour, in some cases the drug is released over a period of about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, or 24 hours.

By “administered in combination” is meant that the anti-obesity agents are administered as a single administration, simultaneously as separate doses, or as sequentially administered. Sequential administration refers to administering one of the anti-obesity agents either before or after an anti-obesity agent. In certain embodiments, the first anti-obesity agent is administered about 30 minutes before or after the at least one other anti-obesity agent, in other embodiments about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 hours before or after the at least one other anti-obesity agents. Any of the administered anti-obesity agents can be administered as a bolus dose or as a continuous dose.

Furthermore, in certain embodiments, administration of the weight-inducing agents in combination results in a synergistic effect in any of the aspects of the invention. In addition, in certain embodiments, administration of the weight-inducing agents in combination results in a lower dosage requirement for at least one of the agents, with the same effect.

Accordingly, in one embodiment is a method of treating obesity or reducing body weight in a subject in need thereof, comprising peripherally administering therapeutically effective amounts of at least two different anti-obesity agents, wherein at least one anti-obesity agent is an amylin, an amylin analog, an amylin agonist, or an amylin derivative and at least one anti-obesity agent is an engineered polypeptide comprising: an albumin binding domain polypeptide (ABD); and a first peptide hormone domain (HD1) selected from a leptin, a leptin analog or an active fragment thereof, and the subject reduces body weight by least 10%, 12%, 15%, 20%, 30%, 40% or even 50%.

Further embodiments include the following.

Embodiment 1 A method of treating obesity in a subject comprising peripherally administering therapeutically effective amounts of at least two different anti-obesity agents, wherein at least one anti-obesity agent is an amylin, an amylin analog, an amylin agonist, or an amylin derivative (i.e. an amylin agent) and at least one anti-obesity agent is an engineered polypeptide comprising: an albumin binding domain polypeptide (ABD); and a first peptide hormone domain (HD1) selected from a leptin, a leptin analog or an active fragment thereof, wherein the ABD comprises any one of the peptides selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:301-452, 455-463, and 500-593.

Embodiment 2 A method of reducing body weight in a subject comprising peripherally administering therapeutically effective amounts of at least two different anti-obesity agents, wherein at least one anti-obesity agent is an amylin, an amylin analog, an amylin agonist, or an amylin derivative (i.e. an amylin agent) and at least one anti-obesity agent is an engineered polypeptide comprising: an albumin binding domain polypeptide (ABD); and a first peptide hormone domain (HD1) selected from a leptin, a leptin analog or an active fragment thereof, wherein the ABD comprises any one of the peptides selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:301-452, 455-463, and 500-593.

Embodiment 3 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 or 2 wherein the at least one anti-obesity amylin agent is an amylin agonist.

Embodiment 4 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 3 wherein the amylin agonist comprises an amylin analog or derivative.

Embodiment 5 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 4 wherein the amylin analog or derivative comprises pramlintide.

Embodiment 6 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 5 wherein the amylin analog or derivative comprises a compound disclosed in Table 4.

Embodiment 7 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 6 wherein the amylin analog or derivative comprises Des-Lys1-[Lys²⁶(mPEG40K)]-Pramlintide (SEQ ID NO: 214).

Embodiment 8 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 7 wherein the HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680.

Embodiment 9 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 8, wherein the HD1 is SEQ ID NO:29.

Embodiment 10 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 9, wherein the engineered polypeptide comprises a compound disclosed in Table 2.

Embodiment 11 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 10, wherein the engineered polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 594 to 663 and 681.

Embodiment 12 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 11, wherein the engineered polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:595.

Embodiment 13 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 11, wherein the engineered polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:657.

Embodiment 14 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 13 wherein the effective amount of the amylin agent and the effective amount of the engineered polypeptide comprises an amount such that a greater amount of weight loss is achieved when the amylin agent is administered in combination with the engineered polypeptide to said subject than the amount of weight loss achieved when either agent is administered alone.

Embodiment 15 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 14 wherein the two agents are administered at the same time.

Embodiment 16 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 15 wherein the two agents are mixed together.

Embodiment 17 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 16 wherein the subject's BMI is greater than 25.

Embodiment 18 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 17 wherein the subject's BMI is 25 to 35.

Embodiment 19 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18, wherein the subject's BMI is 25 to 40.

Embodiment 20 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 19, wherein the subject's BMI is 25 to 45.

Embodiment 21 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein the subject's BMI is 35 to 45.

Embodiment 22 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 21, wherein the subject's BMI is reduced to less than 30.

Embodiment 23 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 22, wherein the subject's BMI is reduced to less than 25.

Embodiment 24 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 23, wherein the subject's BMI is reduced to normal.

Embodiment 25 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 24, wherein weight loss is achieved within 4 weeks of treatment.

Embodiment 26 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 25, wherein weight loss is achieved within 8 weeks of treatment.

Embodiment 27 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 26, wherein weight loss is achieved within 12 weeks of treatment.

Embodiment 28 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 27, wherein weight loss is achieved within 20 weeks of treatment.

Embodiment 29 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 28, wherein weight loss is achieved within 24 weeks of treatment.

Embodiment 30 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 29, wherein the subject is human.

Embodiment 31 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 30, wherein the subject is an obese human.

Embodiment 32 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 31, wherein the weight loss is reduced by at least 10%.

Embodiment 33 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 32, wherein the weight loss is reduced by at least 12%.

Embodiment 34 The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 33, wherein the weight loss is reduced by at least 15%.

B. Formulations

The pharmaceutical compounds of the invention may be formulated with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents as well as any other known adjuvants and excipients in accordance with conventional techniques such as those disclosed in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences by E. W. Martin. See also Wang et al. (1988) J. of Parenteral Sci. and Tech., Technical Report No. 10, Supp. 42:2 S.

In general, the engineered polypeptides may be formulated into a stable, safe pharmaceutical composition for administration to a patient. Pharmaceutical formulations contemplated for use in the methods of the invention may comprise approximately 0.01 to 1.0% (w/v), in certain cases 0.05 to 1.0%, of the engineered polypeptide, approximately 0.02 to 0.5% (w/v) of an acetate, phosphate, citrate or glutamate buffer allowing a pH of the final composition of from about 3.0 to about 7.0; approximately 1.0 to 10% (w/v) of a carbohydrate or polyhydric alcohol tonicifier and, optionally, approximately 0.005 to 1.0% (w/v) of a preservative selected from the group consisting of m-cresol, benzyl alcohol, methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl parabens and phenol. Such a preservative is generally included if the formulated peptide is to be included in a multiple use product.

In particular embodiments, a pharmaceutical formulation of the present engineered polypeptides may contain a range of concentrations of the compound(s), e.g., between about 0.01% to about 98% w/w, or between about 1 to about 98% w/w, or preferably between 80% and 90% w/w, or preferably between about 0.01% to about 50% w/w, or more preferably between about 10% to about 25% w/w in these embodiments. A sufficient amount of water for injection may be used to obtain the desired concentration of solution.

Additional tonicifying agents such as sodium chloride, as well as other known excipients, may also be present, if desired. In some cases, such excipients are useful in maintenance of the overall tonicity of the compound. An excipient may be included in the presently described formulations at various concentrations. For example, an excipient may be included in the concentration range from about 0.02% to about 20% w/w, preferably between about 0.02% and 0.5% w/w, about 0.02% to about 10% w/v, or about 1% to about 20% w/w. In addition, similar to the present formulations themselves, an excipient may be included in solid (including powdered), liquid, semi-solid or gel form.

The pharmaceutical formulations may be composed in various forms, e.g., solid, liquid, semisolid or liquid. The term “solid”, as used herein, is meant to encompass all normal uses of this term including, for example, powders and lyophilized formulations. The presently described formulations may be lyophilized.

The terms buffer, buffer solution and buffered solution, when used with reference to hydrogen-ion concentration or pH, refer to the ability of a system, particularly an aqueous solution, to resist a change of pH on adding acid or alkali, or on dilution with a solvent. Characteristic of buffered solutions, which undergo small changes of pH on addition of acid or base, is the presence either of a weak acid and a salt of the weak acid, or a weak base and a salt of the weak base. An example of the former system is acetic acid and sodium acetate. The change of pH is slight as long as the amount of hydronium or hydroxyl ion added does not exceed the capacity of the buffer system to neutralize it.

As described herein, a variety of liquid vehicles are suitable for use in the formulations of engineered polypeptides, for example, water or an aqueous/organic solvent mixture or suspension.

The stability of a engineered polypeptide formulation for use as described herein is enhanced by maintaining the pH of the formulation in a range determined by methods known in the art. In certain embodiments, the pH of the formulation is maintained in the range of about 3.5 to 5.0, or about 3.5 to 6.5, in some embodiments from about 3.7 to 4.3, or about 3.8 to 4.2. In some embodiments, pH may be about 4.0, about 5.0, about 6.0, about 7.0, about 8.0, about 9.0, or even higher. In some embodiments, pH may be in the physiological range, pH 6-8, preferably pH 7-7.6.

In certain embodiments, the buffer with the engineered polypeptide is an acetate buffer (preferably at a final formulation concentration of from about 1-5 to about 60 mM), phosphate buffer (preferably at a final formulation concentration of from about 1-5 to about to about 30 mM) or glutamate buffer (preferably at a final formulation concentration of from about 1-5 to about to about 60 mM). In some embodiments, the buffer is acetate (preferably at a final formulation concentration of from about 5 to about 30 mM).

A stabilizer may be included in the formulations but is not necessarily needed. If included, however, a stabilizer useful in the practice of the present invention is a carbohydrate or a polyhydric alcohol. A suitable stabilizer useful in the practice of the present invention is approximately 1.0 to 10% (w/v) of a carbohydrate or polyhydric alcohol. The polyhydric alcohols and carbohydrates share the same feature in their backbones, i.e., —CHOH—CHOH—, which is responsible for stabilizing the proteins. The polyhydric alcohols include such compounds as sorbitol, mannitol, glycerol, and polyethylene glycols (PEGs). These compounds are straight-chain molecules. The carbohydrates, such as mannose, ribose, sucrose, fructose, trehalose, maltose, inositol, and lactose, on the other hand, are cyclic molecules that may contain a keto or aldehyde group. These two classes of compounds have been demonstrated to be effective in stabilizing protein against denaturation caused by elevated temperature and by freeze-thaw or freeze-drying processes. Suitable carbohydrates include: galactose, arabinose, lactose or any other carbohydrate which does not have an adverse affect on a diabetic patient, i.e., the carbohydrate is not metabolized to form unacceptably large concentrations of glucose in the blood. Such carbohydrates are well known in the art as suitable for diabetics. Sucrose and fructose are suitable for use with the compound in non-diabetic applications (e.g. treating obesity).

In certain embodiments, if a stabilizer is included, the compound is stabilized with a polyhydric alcohol such as sorbitol, mannitol, inositol, glycerol, xylitol, and polypropylene/ethylene glycol copolymer, as well as various polyethylene glycols (PEG) of molecular weight 200, 400, 1450, 3350, 4000, 6000, 8000 and even higher). Mannitol is the preferred polyhydric alcohol in some embodiments. Another useful feature of the lyophilized formulations of the present invention is the maintenance of the tonicity of the lyophilized formulations described herein with the same formulation component that serves to maintain their stability. In some embodiments, mannitol is the preferred polyhydric alcohol used for this purpose.

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) states that anti-microbial agents in bacteriostatic or fungistatic concentrations must be added to preparations contained in multiple dose containers. They must be present in adequate concentration at the time of use to prevent the multiplication of microorganisms inadvertently introduced into the preparation while withdrawing a portion of the contents with a hypodermic needle and syringe, or using other invasive means for delivery, such as pen injectors. Antimicrobial agents should be evaluated to ensure compatibility with all other components of the formula, and their activity should be evaluated in the total formula to ensure that a particular agent that is effective in one formulation is not ineffective in another. It is not uncommon to find that a particular antimicrobial agent will be effective in one formulation but not effective in another formulation.

A preservative is, in the common pharmaceutical sense, a substance that prevents or inhibits microbial growth and may be added to pharmaceutical formulations for this purpose to avoid consequent spoilage of the formulation by microorganisms. While the amount of the preservative is not great, it may nevertheless affect the overall stability of the peptide.

While the preservative for use in the pharmaceutical compositions can range from 0.005 to 1.0% (w/v), in some embodiments range for each preservative, alone or in combination with others, is: benzyl alcohol (0.1-1.0%), or m-cresol (0.1-0.6%), or phenol (0.1-0.8%) or combination of methyl (0.05-0.25%) and ethyl or propyl or butyl (0.005%-0.03%) parabens. The parabens are lower alkyl esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid. A detailed description of each preservative is set forth in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences (Id.)

Engineered polypeptides may not have a tendency to adsorb onto the glass in a glass container when in a liquid form, therefore, a surfactant may not be required to further stabilize the pharmaceutical formulation. However, with regard to compounds which do have such a tendency when in liquid form, a surfactant should be used in their formulation. These formulations may then be lyophilized. Surfactants frequently cause denaturation of protein, both of hydrophobic disruption and by salt bridge separation. Relatively low concentrations of surfactant may exert a potent denaturing activity, because of the strong interactions between surfactant moieties and the reactive sites on proteins. However, judicious use of this interaction can stabilize proteins against interfacial or surface denaturation. Surfactants which could further stabilize the engineered polypeptide may optionally be present in the range of about 0.001 to 0.3% (w/v) of the total formulation and include polysorbate 80 (i.e., polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate), CHAPS® (i.e., 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]1-propanesulfonate), Brij® (e.g., Brij® 35, which is (polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether), poloxamer, or another non-ionic surfactant.

It may also be desirable to add sodium chloride or other salt to adjust the tonicity of the pharmaceutical formulation, depending on the tonicifier selected. However, this is optional and depends on the particular formulation selected. Parenteral formulations preferably may be isotonic or substantially isotonic.

A preferred vehicle for parenteral products is water. Water of suitable quality for parenteral administration can be prepared either by distillation or by reverse osmosis. Water for injection is the preferred aqueous vehicle for use in the pharmaceutical formulations.

It is possible that other ingredients may be present in the pharmaceutical formulations. Such additional ingredients may include, e.g., wetting agents, emulsifiers, oils, antioxidants, bulking agents, tonicity modifiers, chelating agents, metal ions, oleaginous vehicles, proteins (e.g., human serum albumin, gelatin or proteins) and a zwitterion (e.g., an amino acid such as betaine, taurine, arginine, glycine, lysine and histidine). Additionally, polymer solutions, or mixtures with polymers provide the opportunity for controlled release of the peptide. Such additional ingredients, of course, should not adversely affect the overall stability of the pharmaceutical formulation of the present invention.

Containers are also an integral part of the formulation of an injection and may be considered a component, for there is no container that is totally inert, or does not in some way affect the liquid it contains, particularly if the liquid is aqueous. Therefore, the selection of a container for a particular injection must be based on a consideration of the composition of the container, as well as of the solution, and the treatment to which it will be subjected. Adsorption of the peptide to the glass surface of the vial can also be minimized, if necessary, by use of borosilicate glass, for example, Wheaton Type I borosilicate glass #33 (Wheaton Type I-33) or its equivalent (Wheaton Glass Co.). Other vendors of similar borosilicate glass vials and cartridges acceptable for manufacture include Kimbel Glass Co., West Co., Bunder Glas GMBH and Form a Vitrum. The biological and chemical properties of the compound may be stabilized by formulation and lyophilization in a Wheaton Type I-33 borosilicate serum vial to a final concentration of 0.1 mg/ml and 10 mg/ml of the compound in the presence of 5% mannitol, and 0.02% Tween 80.

For formulations to be delivered by injection, in order to permit introduction of a needle from a hypodermic syringe into a multiple-dose vial and provide for resealing as soon as the needle is withdrawn, the open end of each vial is preferably sealed with a rubber stopper closure held in place by an aluminum band.

Stoppers for glass vials, such as, West 4416/50, 4416/50 (Teflon faced) and 4406/40, Abbott 5139 or any equivalent stopper can be used as the closure for pharmaceutical for injection. For formulations comprising peptidic anti-obesity agents, these stoppers are compatible with the peptide as well as the other components of the formulation. The inventors have also discovered that these stoppers pass the stopper integrity test when tested using patient use patterns, e.g., the stopper can withstand at least about 100 injections. Alternatively, the peptide can be lyophilized in to vials, syringes or cartridges for subsequent reconstitution. Liquid formulations of the present invention can be filled into one or two chambered cartridges, or one or two chamber syringes.

Each of the components of the pharmaceutical formulation described above is known in the art and is described in PHARMACEUTICAL DOSAGE FORMS: PARENTERAL MEDICATIONS, Vol. 1, 2nd ed., Avis et al. Ed., Mercel Dekker, New York, N.Y. 1992, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein and for all purposes.

The manufacturing process for the above liquid formulations generally involves compounding, sterile filtration and filling steps. The compounding procedure involves dissolution of ingredients in a specific order (preservative followed by stabilizer/tonicity agents, buffers and peptide) or dissolving at the same time.

Alternative formulations, e.g., non-parenteral, may not require sterilization. However, if sterilization is desired or necessary, any suitable sterilization process can be used in developing the peptide pharmaceutical formulation of the present invention. Typical sterilization processes include filtration, steam (moist heat), dry heat, gases (e.g., ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, chlorine dioxide, propylene oxide, beta-propiolacctone, ozone, chloropicrin, peracetic acid methyl bromide and the like), exposure to a radiation source, and aseptic handling. Filtration is the preferred method of sterilization for liquid formulations of the present invention. The sterile filtration involves filtration through 0.45 um and 0.22 um (1 or 2) which may be connected in series. After filtration, the solution is filled into appropriate vials or containers.

In certain embodiments, the engineered polypeptides described herein are administered peripherally to the subjects. In some embodiments, the liquid pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention are intended for parenteral administration. Suitable routes of administration include intramuscular, intravenous, subcutaneous, intradermal, intraarticular, intrathecal and the like. In some embodiments, the subcutaneous route of administration is preferred. In certain embodiments, mucosal delivery is also preferred. These routes include, but are not limited to, oral, nasal, sublingual, pulmonary and buccal routes which may include administration of the peptide in liquid, semi-solid or solid form. For formulations comprising engineered polypeptides, administration via these routes can require substantially more compound to obtain the desired biological effects due to decreased bioavailability compared to parenteral delivery. In addition, parenteral controlled release delivery can be achieved by forming polymeric microcapsules, matrices, solutions, implants and devices and administering them parenterally or by surgical means. Examples of controlled release formulations are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,368,630, 6,379,704, and 5,766,627, which are incorporated herein by reference. These dosage forms may have a lower bioavailability due to entrapment of some of the peptide in the polymer matrix or device. See e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,379,704, 6,379,703, and 6,296,842, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.

The compounds may be provided in dosage unit form containing an amount of the engineered polypeptide that will be effective in one or multiple doses.

As will be recognized by those in the field, an effective amount of the engineered polypeptide will vary with many factors including the age and weight of the subject, the subject's physical condition, the condition to be treated, and other factors known in the art. An effective amount of the engineered polypeptides will also vary with the particular combination administered. As described herein, administration of the engineered polypeptides in combination may allow for a reduced amount of any of the administered engineered polypeptides to be an effective amount.

The long-duration of action of the engineered polypeptide can provide the extended duration of action desired, such as once daily or once weekly administration. The duration of action can be selected, for example, by choice of ABD and its affinity for albumin. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that higher affinity to albumin will yield longer circulation times providing longer duration of action. Either or both pharmacodynamic (therapeutic effects) and pharmacokinetic (drug properties) can be measured over time after delivery, such as drug plasma levels, acute or chronic glucose and/or HbA1c lowering, insulin plasma levels, food intake inhibition or weight loss.

C. Effective Dosages

Pharmaceutical compositions provided herein include compositions wherein the active ingredient is contained in a therapeutically effective amount, i.e., in an amount effective to achieve its intended purpose. The actual amount effective for a particular application will depend, inter alia, on the condition being treated. For example, when administered in methods to treat diabetes, such compositions will contain an amount of active ingredient effective to achieve the desired result (e.g. decreasing fasting blood glucose in a subject). When administered in methods to treat obesity, such compositions will contain an amount of active ingredient effective to achieve the desired result (e.g. decrease the body mass).

The dosage and frequency (single or multiple doses) of compound administered can vary depending upon a variety of factors, including route of administration; size, age, sex, health, body weight, body mass index, and diet of the recipient; nature and extent of symptoms of the disease being treated (e.g., the disease responsive to compounds described herein); presence of other diseases or other health-related problems; kind of concurrent treatment; and complications from any disease or treatment regimen. Other therapeutic regimens or agents can be used in conjunction with the methods and compounds of the invention.

Therapeutically effective amounts for use in humans may be determined from animal models. For example, a dose for humans can be formulated to achieve a concentration that has been found to be effective in animals. The dosage in humans can be adjusted by monitoring one or more physiological parameters, including but not limited to blood sugar and body mass, and adjusting the dosage upwards or downwards, as described above and known in the art.

Dosages may be varied depending upon the requirements of the patient and the compound being employed. The dose administered to a patient, in the context of the present invention, should be sufficient to affect a beneficial therapeutic response in the patient over time. The size of the dose also will be determined by the existence, nature, and extent of any adverse side effects. Generally, treatment is initiated with smaller dosages, which are less than the optimum dose of the compound. Thereafter, the dosage is increased by small increments until the optimum effect under circumstances is reached. In one embodiment of the invention, the dosage range is 0.001% to 10% w/v. In another embodiment, the dosage range is 0.1% to 5% w/v.

However, typical doses may contain from a lower limit of about 0.1 mg to an upper limit of about 200 mg of the pharmaceutical compound per day. Also contemplated are other dose ranges such as 1 mg to 100 mg of the compound per dose, and 3 mg to 70 mg per dose. Typically, the dose of engineered polypeptides with long duration of action is administered, for example, daily and even once weekly. The doses per day may be delivered in discrete unit doses, provided continuously in a 24 hour period or any portion of that the 24 hours.

Dosage amounts and intervals can be adjusted individually to provide levels of the administered compound effective for the particular clinical indication being treated. This will provide a therapeutic regimen that is commensurate with the severity of the individual's disease state.

Utilizing the teachings provided herein, an effective prophylactic or therapeutic treatment regimen can be planned that does not cause substantial toxicity and yet is entirely effective to treat the clinical symptoms demonstrated by the particular patient. This planning should involve the careful choice of active compound by considering factors such as compound potency, relative bioavailability, patient body weight, presence and severity of adverse side effects, preferred mode of administration, and the toxicity profile of the selected agent.

The surprising dose-sparing property of the engineered polypeptides described herein, along with their surprisingly long plasma half-life and duration of pharmacological action, provides for a superior pharmaceutical agent. The superior properties including dose-sparing, allow for lower dosing, thus less or less severe side-effects and improved cost of goods, and/or more cost-effective and simpler formulations for once daily or once weekly administration not currently achieved by the parent compounds alone.

D. Toxicity

The ratio between toxicity and therapeutic effect for a particular compound is its therapeutic index and can be expressed as the ratio between LD₅₀ (the amount of compound lethal in 50% of the population) and ED₅₀ (the amount of compound effective in 50% of the population). Compounds that exhibit high therapeutic indices are preferred. Therapeutic index data obtained from cell culture assays and/or animal studies can be used in formulating a range of dosages for use in humans. The dosage of such compounds preferably lies within a range of plasma concentrations that include the ED₅₀ with little or no toxicity. The dosage may vary within this range depending upon the dosage form employed and the route of administration utilized. See, e.g. Fingl et al., In: THE PHARMACOLOGICAL BASIS OF THERAPEUTICS, Ch. 1, p. 1, 1975. The exact formulation, route of administration, and dosage can be chosen by the individual physician in view of the patient's condition and the particular method in which the compound is used.

Without wishing to be bound by any theory, it is believed that conjugation of an ABD albumin binding domain with a hormone domain as described herein, can provide decreased immunogenicity as judged by a reduction in immune response relative to the hormone domain without ABD conjugation. See e.g., WO 2009/016043, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.

VII. Examples

Examples 1-5 are provided to illustrate, amongst other things, the superior properties of the ABDs described herein, e.g. reduced immunogenicity properties, compared to previous ABDs.

Example 1 Cloning, Expression, Purification and Characterization of Albumin Binding Polypeptides

In this example, eight different albumin binding polypeptides, PEP07913 (SEQ ID NO:453), PEP07912 (SEQ ID NO:456), PEP07914 (SEQ ID NO:458), PEP07968 (i.e. DOTA conjugated to PEP07911, SEQ ID NO:459), PEP06923 (SEQ ID NO:454), PEP07271 (SEQ ID NO:455), PEP07554 (SEQ ID NO:456) and PEP07844 (SEQ ID NO:461), the amino acid sequences of which are set out in FIG. 1A through FIG. 1H, were cloned, purified and characterized.

Material and Methods

Cloning of Albumin Binding Polypeptide Variants

After constructs were verified by sequencing, the vector DNA was purified and transformed into an expression host, typically BL21(DE3). A single colony was selected to grow a starter culture in 4 ml LB media for ˜6 hrs.

Mutations in G148-GA3 were generated using site directed mutagenesis with the appropriate oligonucleotides to obtain the desired albumin binding polypeptide variants. The gene fragments were amplified by PCR with primers adding specific endonuclease sites as well as an N-terminal MGSS (SEQ ID NO: 36) sequence preceding the albumin binding polypeptide variants. The fragments were cleaved with NdeI and NotI, purified and ligated to a cloning vector, the plasmid pAY02556 (containing an origin of replication from pBR322, a kanamycin resistance gene and a T7 promoter for expression of the gene of interest), restricted with the same enzymes. Ligations were transformed to electrocompetent E. coli TOP 10 cells. The transformed cells were spread on TBAB plates (30 g/l tryptose blood agar base) supplemented with 50 μg/ml of kanamycin, followed by incubation at 37° C. overnight. The colonies were screened using PCR and sequencing of amplified fragments was performed using the biotinylated oligonucleotide and a BigDye® Terminator v3.1 Cycle Sequencing Kit (Applied Biosystems), used in accordance with the manufacturer's protocol. The sequencing reactions were purified by binding to magnetic streptavidin coated beads using a Magnatrix 8000 (NorDiag AB), and analyzed on ABI PRISM® 3100 Genetic Analyzer (PE Applied Biosystems). All albumin binding polypeptide variants were subcloned as monomers and the constructs encoded by the expression vectors were MGSS-[PP###] (“MGSS” disclosed as SEQ ID NO: 36), where PP### corresponds to the 46 amino acid residues constituting the sequence of the albumin binding polypeptide.

In addition, the gene fragments of G148-GA3, PP007 (SEQ ID NO:307), PP013 (SEQ ID NO:313) and PP037 (SEQ ID NO:337) were amplified by PCR with primers adding specific endonuclease sites as well as a hexahistidin (SEQ ID NO: 34) sequence, a TEV protease site and a glycine residue before the 46 amino acid residues constituting the sequence of the albumin binding polypeptide. The polypeptides PEP07913 (SEQ ID NO:453), PEP07912 (SEQ ID NO:457), PEP07914 (SEQ ID NO:458) and PEP07968 (SEQ ID NO:459) correspond to the albumin binding polypeptides G148-GA3, PP007 (SEQ ID NO:307), PP013 (SEQ ID NO:313) and PP037 (SEQ ID NO:337) with glycine residues added. The fragments were cleaved with XbaI and NotI, purified and ligated to a cloning vector, the plasmid pAY02512 (containing an origin of replication from pBR322, a kanamycin resistance gene and a T7 promoter for expression of the gene of interest. The cloning site is preceded by a sequence encoding a peptide containing a hexahistidine tag (SEQ ID NO: 34) followed by a cleavage site for the TEV protease), restricted with the same enzymes. Ligation, transformation and sequence verification were performed as described above. The four albumin binding polypeptide variants G148-GA3, PP007, PP013 and PP037 were subcloned as monomers and the constructs encoded by the expression vectors were MGSSHHHHHHLQSSGVDLGTENLYFQG-[PP###], where MGSSHHHHHHLQSSGVDLGTENLYFQG is SEQ ID NO:37.

Protein Expression

The albumin binding polypeptide variants were expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) either with an N-terminal MGSS-extension (“MGSS” disclosed as SEQ ID NO: 36) or with an N-terminal His6-tag (SEQ ID NO: 34) followed by a TEV-protease recognition site and a glycine residue. A colony of each albumin binding polypeptide variant was used to inoculate 4 ml TSB+YE medium supplemented with kanamycin to a concentration of 50 μg/ml. The cultures were grown at 37° C. for approximately 5 hours. 3 ml from each of the cultures was used to inoculate 800 ml TSB+YE supplemented with kanamycin to a concentration of 50 μg/ml in parallel bio reactors (Greta system, Belach Bioteknik AB). The cultivations were performed at 37° C., with aeration at 800 ml/minute and an agitation profile to keep dissolved oxygen levels above 30%, to an OD600 of 2, which was followed by addition of IPTG to a final concentration of 0.5 mM. Cultivation was continued for five hours after which the cultivation was cooled to 10° C., aeration was stopped and agitation lowered to 300 rpm. Cell pellets were harvested by centrifugation (15600×g, 4° C., 20 minutes) and stored at −20° C. until purification.

Purification of Albumin Binding Polypeptide Variants with a His6-Tag (SEQ ID NO: 34) and a TEV-Protease Site

Frozen cell pellets harboring soluble hexahistidine-tagged (SEQ ID NO: 34) polypeptides PEP07913 (SEQ ID NO:453), PEP07912 (SEQ ID NO:456), PEP07914 (SEQ ID NO:458) and PEP07968 (SEQ ID NO:459) were suspended in 35 ml binding buffer (20 mM sodium phosphate, 0.5 M NaCl, 20 mM imidazole, pH 7.4) with an addition of 1000 U Benzonase® (1.01654.001, Merck) and disrupted by ultrasonication. For each of the polypeptides, the ultrasonicated suspension was clarified by centrifugation (1 h, 37000×g, 4° C.) and the supernatant was loaded onto a His GraviTrap™ column (11-0033-99, GE Healthcare). The column was washed with 10 ml washing buffer (20 mM sodium phosphate, 0.5 M NaCl, 60 mM imidazole, pH 7.4), before eluting the polypeptide with 3 ml elution buffer (20 mM sodium phosphate, 0.5 M NaCl, 0.5 M imidazole, pH 7.4). The buffer was exchanged to a cleavage buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, 150 mM NaCl, pH 8) using PD-10 desalting column (17-0851-01, GE Healthcare). The amount of polypeptide product was determined by measuring the absorbance at 280 nm before adding DTT to a final concentration of 5 mM. His⁶-tagged (SEQ ID NO: 34) TEV protease was added to the cleavage buffer at a 1:10 mass ratio relative to the polypeptide product. The cleavage was performed over night under slow mixing at 4° C. Imidazole was added to the cleavage mix, to a concentration of 20 mM, before loading the mix onto a His GraviTrap™ column (11-0033-99, GE Healthcare) for removing cleaved His⁶-tags (SEQ ID NO: 34), His⁶-tagged (SEQ ID NO: 34) TEV protease and His6-tagged (SEQ ID NO: 34) uncleaved product.

For each variant, the flow-through, containing the albumin binding polypeptide variant, was further purified by reversed phase chromatography (RPC), as follows. The flow-through fraction was loaded on 1 ml Resource 15 RPC column (GE Healthcare), previously equilibrated with RPC A Buffer (0.1% TFA in water). After column wash with 10 column volumes (CV) RPC A Buffer, bound polypeptides were eluted with a linear gradient of 0-50% RPC B Buffer (0.1% TFA in acetonitrile) during 10 CV. The flow rate was 2 ml/min and the absorbance at 280 nm was monitored. Fractions containing albumin binding polypeptide variant were identified by SDS-PAGE analysis and pooled.

The RPC-purified albumin binding polypeptide variants were further purified by gel filtration on 120 ml Superdex 75 (GE Healthcare) packed in an XK16 column (GE Healthcare). The running buffer was 1×PBS, and the flow rate 2 ml/min. Fractions containing pure albumin binding polypeptide variant were pooled and concentrated to approximately 1.3 mg/ml. Finally, the concentrate was purified from trace amounts of remaining endotoxins by using 1 ml columns of AffinityPak Detoxi-Gel Endotoxin removing gel (Pierce, prod#20344), according to the manufacture's recommendations.

The albumin binding polypeptide variant PEP07911 was conjugated with Mal-DOTA before the RPC-purification step, as follows. The buffer of the flow-through fraction from the IMAC-FT purification step was exchanged to 0.2 M NaAc, pH 5.5, using a disposable PD-10 desalting column (GE Healthcare). Maleimido-mono-amide-DOTA (Macrocyclics, cat. no. B-272) was added at 5-fold molar excess and incubated for 60 minutes at 30° C. under continuous shaking. The resulting polypeptide was denoted PEP07968.

Purification of Albumin Binding Polypeptide-Variants without His6-Tag (SEQ ID NO: 34)

Frozen cell pellets harboring soluble albumin binding polypeptide variants PEP06923 (SEQ ID NO:454), PEP07271 (SEQ ID NO:455), PEP07554 (SEQ ID NO:456) and PEP07844 (SEQ ID NO:461) were suspended in 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8 and disrupted by ultrasonication. For each of the polypeptide variants, the ultrasonicated suspension was clarified by centrifugation (30 min, 32000×g, 4° C.) and the supernatant was loaded onto a HSA-Sepharose column (GE Healthcare). After washing with TST-buffer (25 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTA, 200 mM NaCl, 0.05% Tween 20, pH 8.0), followed by 5 mM NH4Ac, pH 5.5, bound albumin binding polypeptide variant was eluted with 0.5 M HAc, pH 3.2.

The albumin binding polypeptide variants were further purified by reversed phase chromatography (RPC), as follows. For each of the variants, the eluate from the HSA-affinity purification step was loaded on 1 ml Resource 15 RPC column (GE Healthcare), previously equilibrated with RPC A Buffer (0.1% TFA in water). After column wash with 10 CV RPC A Buffer, bound polypeptides were eluted with a linear gradient of 0-50% RPC B Buffer (0.1% TFA in acetonitrile) during 10 CV. The flow rate was 2 ml/min and the absorbance at 280 nm was monitored. Fractions containing pure albumin binding polypeptide variants were identified by SDS-PAGE analysis and pooled. Finally, the buffer was exchanged to 1×PBS (2.68 mM KCl, 137 mM NaCl, 1.47 mM KH2PO4, 8.1 mM Na2HPO4, pH 7.4) using a disposable PD-10 desalting column (GE Healthcare).

Characterization of Purified Albumin Binding Polypeptide-Variants

The concentration was assessed by measuring the absorbance at 280 nm using a NanoDrop® ND-1000 Spectrophotometer. The proteins were further analyzed with SDS-PAGE and LC-MS.

For the SDS-PAGE analysis, approximately 10 μg of each albumin binding polypeptide variant was mixed with NuPAGE LDS Sample Buffer (Invitrogen), incubated at 70° C. for 15 min and loaded onto NuPAGE 4-12% Bis-Tris Gels (Invitrogen). The gels were run with NuPAGE MES SDS Running Buffer (Invitrogen) in an XCell II SureLock Electrophoresis Cell (Novex) employing the Sharp Prestained Standard (Invitrogen) as molecular weight marker and using PhastGel BlueR (GE Healthcare) for staining.

To verify the identity of the albumin binding polypeptide variants, LC/MS analyses were performed using an Agilent 1100 LC/MSD system, equipped with API-ESI and a single quadruple mass analyzer. Approximately 10 μg of each of the purified albumin binding polypeptide variants was loaded on a Zorbax 300SB-C8 Narrow-Bore column (2.1×150 mm, 3.5 μm, Agilent Technologies) at a flow-rate of 0.5 ml/min. Polypeptides were eluted using a linear gradient of 10-70% solution B for 15 min at 0.5 ml/min. The separation was performed at 30° C. The ion signal and the absorbance at 280 and 220 nm were monitored. The molecular weights of the purified albumin binding polypeptide variants were confirmed by MS.

Results

The expression levels of the albumin binding polypeptide variants were 10-30 mg product/g cell pellet, as estimated from SDS-PAGE analysis.

For all variants, the purity, as determined by SDS-PAGE analysis, exceeded 95% and the LC/MS analysis verified the correct molecular weights. After purification, between 1 and 8 mg of pure polypeptide was obtained for each of the eight albumin binding polypeptide variants.

Example 2 Affinity Determination for Albumin Binding Polypeptides

In this example, PEP06923 (SEQ ID NO:454), PEP07271 (SEQ ID NO:455), PEP07844 (SEQ ID NO:461), PEP07912 (SEQ ID NO:457), PEP07913 (SEQ ID NO:453), PEP07914 (SEQ ID NO:458) and PEP07968, (i.e. DOTA-conjugated to PEP07911, SEQ ID NO:459), synthesized or expressed and purified in Example 1 were characterized for affinity to human serum albumin (HSA) using a Biacore instrument. PEP07913 corresponds to the amino acid sequence of G148-GA3 with addition of a N-terminal glycine residue, whereas PEP07271, PEP07844, PEP07912, PEP07914 and PEP07968 correspond to the albumin binding polypeptides of PP001 (SEQ ID NO:301), PP043 (SEQ ID NO:343), PP007 (SEQ ID NO:307), PP013 (SEQ ID NO:313) and PP037 (SEQ ID NO:337) with different N-terminal amino acid additions.

Material and Methods

Biosensor analysis on a Biacore2000 instrument (GE Healthcare) was performed with HSA (Albucult®, Novozyme), immobilized by amine coupling onto the carboxylated dextran layer of the surfaces of CM-5 chips (research grade; Biacore) according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Surface 1 of the chip was activated and deactivated and used as a reference cell (blank surface) during injections, whereas surface 2 comprised HSA immobilized to 731 resonance units (RU) and surface 4 comprised HSA immobilized to 955 RU. The purified albumin binding polypeptide variants were diluted in running buffer HBS-EP (GE Healthcare) to 2.5 nM, 10 nM and 40 nM, and injected at a constant flow-rate of 50 μl/min for 5 minutes, followed by injection of HBS-EP for 60 minutes. The surfaces were regenerated with one injection of 25 μl HCl, 10 mM. The affinity measurements were performed in two sets; in the first set HBS-EP, PEP06923, PEP07271, PEP07912, PEP07913, PEP07914 and PEP07968 were injected (chip surface 2), and in the second set HBS-EP, PEP06923, PEP07844, PEP07912 and PEP07914 were injected (chip surface 4). PEP06923 was injected twice in each run as a control. The results were analyzed with a BiaEvaluation software (GE Healthcare). Curves of the blank surface were subtracted from the curves of the ligand surfaces.

Results

The Biacore 2000 instrument has a technical limitation, hindering measurements of very high affinity. Hence, the purpose of the Biacore study was not to determine the exact kinetic parameters of the albumin binding polypeptide variants' affinity for HSA. However, the results provide a quantitative estimation of the relative affinities of these polypeptides for albumin. After subtraction of reference surface and buffer injection, curves were fitted to a 1:1 (Langmuir) binding model using BIAevaluation software with correction for mass transfer and with RUmax set as a local parameter. Curves are shown in FIG. 2. The relative K_(D), k_(a) (k_(on)) and k_(d) (k_(off)) values were estimated and are presented in the Tables below.

TABLE X1 Kinetic parameters (k_(a), k_(d) and K_(D)) of albumin binding polypeptides to HSA, 1st set k_(a) (Ms⁻¹) k_(d) (s⁻¹) K_(D) (M) PEP07913 5.7 × 10⁵ 9.3 × 10⁻⁴ 1.6 × 10⁻⁹  PEP06923 (1) 2.9 × 10⁷ 2.9 × 10⁻⁵ 9.9 × 10⁻¹³ PEP06923 (2) 2.6 × 10⁷ 2.8 × 10⁻⁵ 1.1 × 10⁻¹² PEP07271 3.9 × 10⁶ 2.9 × 10⁻⁵ 7.5 × 10⁻¹² PEP07912 4.6 × 10⁶ 2.8 × 10⁻⁵ 6.2 × 10⁻¹² PEP07914 3.5 × 10⁶ 2.5 × 10⁻⁵ 7.2 × 10⁻¹² PEP07968 3.0 × 10⁶ 2.7 × 10⁻⁵ 9.0 × 10⁻¹²

TABLE X2 Kinetic parameters (k_(a), k_(d) and K_(D)) of albumin binding polypeptides to HSA, 2nd set k_(a) (Ms⁻¹) k_(d) (s⁻¹) K_(D) (M) PEP06923 (1) 2.0 × 10⁷ 2.6 × 10⁻⁵ 1.3 × 10⁻¹² PEP06923 (2) 2.1 × 10⁷ 2.5 × 10⁻⁵ 1.2 × 10⁻¹² PEP07912 5.4 × 10⁶ 2.8 × 10⁻⁵ 5.2 × 10⁻¹² PEP07914 3.8 × 10⁶ 2.6 × 10⁻⁵ 6.9 × 10⁻¹² PEP07844 5.4 × 10⁶ 2.3 × 10⁻⁵ 4.4 × 10⁻¹²

As shown in Table X1 and X2, PEP07271 (SEQ ID NO:455), PEP07844 (SEQ ID NO:461), PEP07912 (SEQ ID NO:457), PEP07914 (SEQ ID NO:458) and PEP07968 (PEP07911 conjugated with DOTA, SEQ ID NO:459) all seem to have approximately the same affinity for HSA, widely exceeding the affinity of the parent G148-GA3 (PEP07913; SEQ ID NO:453). The HSA affinity of these polypeptides is slightly lower compared to PEP06923 (SEQ ID NO:454), despite similar off-rate.

Example 3 Determination of Melting Temperature (Tm) for Albumin Binding Polypeptides

In this example, the albumin binding polypeptide variants PEP07913 (SEQ ID NO:453), PEP06923 (SEQ ID NO:454), PEP07271 (SEQ ID NO:455), PEP07554 (SEQ ID NO:456), PEP07912 (SEQ ID NO:457), PEP07914 (SEQ ID NO:458), PEP07968 (PEP07911 conjugated with DOTA, SEQ ID NO:459) and PEP07844 (SEQ ID NO:461), expressed and purified as described in Example 1, and the albumin polypeptide variant PEP07975 (i.e. DOTA-conjugated PEP07834, SEQ ID NO:460, via Cys14 with maleimido-mono-amide-DOTA (Macrocyclics, Cat. No. B-272), were analyzed by CD analysis. PEP07913 corresponds to the sequence of G148-GA3 having an N-terminal glycine residue, PEP06923 is an engineered high affinity derivative previously described by Jonsson et al., supra, whereas PEP07271, PEP07554, PEP07912, PEP07914, PEP07968, PEP07844 and PEP07975 are examples of the 46 amino acid residues albumin binding polypeptides of PP001 (SEQ ID NO:301), PP007 (SEQ ID NO:307), PP013 (SEQ ID NO:313), PP037 (SEQ ID NO:337) and PP043 (SEQ ID NO:343) having different N-terminal amino acid additions according to the present disclosure.

Material and Methods

Purified albumin binding polypeptide variants were diluted in 1×PBS, to final concentrations between 0.4 and 0.5 mg/ml. Circular dichroism (CD) analysis was performed on a Jasco J-810 spectropolarimeter in a cell with an optical path-length of 1 mm. In the variable temperature measurements, the absorbance was measured at 221 nm from 20° to 90° C., with a temperature slope of 5° C./min.

Results

The melting temperatures (Tm) of the different albumin binding polypeptide variants were calculated by determining the midpoint of the transition in the CD vs. temperature plot. The results are summarized in Table X3 below.

TABLE X3 Determined Tm values of tested albumin binding polypeptide variants Variant SEQ ID NO: # N-terminal sequence³ Tm (° C.) PEP07913 SEQ ID NO: 453 GL 61 PEP06923 SEQ ID NO: 454 GSSL 57 PEP07271 SEQ ID NO: 455 GSSL 65 PEP07554 SEQ ID NO: 456 GSSL 58 PEP07912 SEQ ID NO: 457 GL 53 PEP07914 SEQ ID NO: 458 GL 59 PEP07968 SEQ ID NO: 459¹ GL 53 PEP07975 SEQ ID NO: 460^(1,2) AL 50 PEP07844 SEQ ID NO: 461 GSSL 65 ¹The peptide is conjugated with maleimide-DOTA at the cysteine ²The peptide is amidated at the C-terminus ³Leucine (underlined) is the residue in position 1 of the 46 amino acid sequence of the albumin binding polypeptide as defined in the first aspect of the present disclosure “GSSL” in Table X3 disclosed as SEQ ID NO: 38.

The polypeptide PEP07968 is identical to PEP07912, except for the former having a cysteine residue in position 14, which is conjugated with maleimide DOTA, and the latter a serine residue. Thus, the DOTA modification should not affect the melting temperature. Also PEP07975 is maleiamide-conjugated with DOTA using Cys14, and is identical to PEP07968 except for the C-terminal amide (resulting from the peptide synthesis) and for having an N-terminal alanine instead of a glycine. Furthermore, comparing PEP07912 and PEP07554 reveals that an N-terminal serine gives a higher melting temperature than a glycine in the same position (5° C. difference in Tm). Thus, all albumin binding polypeptide variants according to the present disclosure show Tm above 55° C., except PEP07912 and DOTA-conjugated variants. Taking into consideration the importance of the N-terminal portion, all the tested albumin binding polypeptides are superior to the derivative of Jonsson et al., e.g. PEP06923.

Example 4 Serum Response Analysis

The percentage of human serum containing IgG, capable of binding to a set of albumin binding polypeptides as disclosed herein was analyzed by ELISA. In total, 149 serum samples corresponding to 127 individuals were screened.

Material and Methods

ELISA plates (96-well, half area plates (Costar, cat. No. 3690)) were coated with 50 μl/well of Albucult® (Novozyme) diluted to 8 μg/ml in coating buffer (Sigma, cat. No. 3041). The plates were coated over night for three days at 4° C. On the day of analysis, the plates were washed twice with tap water and blocked for 2 hours with 100 μl of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing 0.05% casein (PBSC). The plates were emptied and 50 μl/well of the albumin binding polypeptides PEP07913 (SEQ ID NO:453), PEP06923 (SEQ ID NO:454), PEP07271 (SEQ ID NO:455), PEP07912 (SEQ ID NO:457), PEP07554 (SEQ ID NO:456), PEP07914 (SEQ ID NO:458), PEP07968 (DOTA conjugated PEP07911, SEQ ID NO:459) and PEP07844 (SEQ ID NO:461), diluted to 2 μg/ml in PBSC were added according to a pre-made plate layout. After incubation for two hours at room temperature (RT), the plates were washed in PBSC four times using an automated ELISA washer. The 149 serum samples from 129 individuals were diluted 50 times in PBSC by adding 24 μl serum to 1174 μl PBSC. 50 μl of the diluted sera was added per well according to the pre-made plate layout. Each serum sample was tested as a singlet. Positive and negative controls were included on each plate and for each albumin binding polypeptide. Albumin binding antibodies (50 μl, 0.5 μl/ml immunoglobulin solution prepared in house from sera from primates immunized with PEP06923) was added as a positive control and 50 μl PBSC was used as a negative control. The plates were incubated for one hour at RT and subsequently washed four times in PBSC using an automated ELISA washer. The bound IgG was detected with 50 μl/well of anti-human IgG (Southern Biotech, cat no 2040-05) diluted 10 000 times in PBSC. After washing four times in PBSC using an automated ELISA washer, 50 μl/well of substrate was added (Pierce cat. No. 34021). The reaction was stopped after 10-15 minutes by the addition of 50 μl H2SO4 to each well, prior to measuring the absorbance using a multi-well plate reader (Victor3, Perkin Elmer).

Results

Of the 149 sera screened for IgG binding to the albumin binding polypeptides, 23 were negative for all eight polypeptides (OD-value<0.1), i.e. showed no IgG bound to the polypeptides. The analysis was performed with the 126 sera that were positive for one or more albumin binding polypeptides. The average absorbance was calculated (FIG. 3A) and the percentage of sera with OD-values values either <0.15 (FIG. 3B) or >1.0 (FIG. 3C). The highest average OD-value and the highest percentage of serum with IgG binding were obtained with PEP07913 (SEQ ID NO:453), PEP06923 (SEQ ID NO:454) and PEP07844 (SEQ ID NO:461), whereas least reactivity was found against PEP07968 (DOTA conjugated PEP07911, SEQ ID NO:459), PEP07914 (SEQ ID NO:458) and PEP07954 (SEQ ID NO:456).

Thus, the most reactive albumin binding polypeptides were the parental G148-GA3 (PEP07913, SEQ ID NO:453) and the previously affinity improved derivative (PEP06923, SEQ ID NO:454), having helix 1 retained from G148-GA3. The third of the more reactive polypeptides (PEP07844, SEQ ID NO:461) contains the original lysine in position 14 in helix 1. This residue is intended for conjugation, and will therefore not be exposed when used as such. The identical albumin binding polypeptide variant, except for having an alanine in position 14 (PEP07554, SEQ ID NO:456), is one of the least reactive.

Example 5 Immunogenicity Testing of Albumin Binding Polypeptides

PEP07913 (SEQ ID NO:453), PEP07912 (SEQ ID NO:457), PEP07914 (SEQ ID NO:458), and PEP07968 (i.e. DOTA conjugated PEP07911, SEQ ID NO:459) were screened for their ability to induce T cell proliferation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 52 human Caucasian individuals (obtained from CRI-Labo Medische Analyse, Gent, Belgium). PEP07913 corresponds to the sequence of G148-GA3 having an N-terminal glycine residue, whereas PEP07912, PEP07914 and PEP07968, are examples of the 46 amino acid residues albumin binding polypeptides of PP007 (SEQ ID NO:307), PP013 (SEQ ID NO:313) and PP037 (SEQ ID NO:337) having different N-terminal amino acid additions according to the present disclosure.

Materials and Methods

PBMCs, prepared according to standard cell biological methods, were added to a tissue culture (TC) treated 96-well round bottom plate (Falcon) in an amount of 300 000 PBMCs/well. The cells were stimulated by addition of 100 μl/well of albumin binding polypeptides PEP07913, PEP07912, PEP07914 and PEP07968 in AIMV medium (Invitrogen) additionally containing 900 μg/ml (3-fold molar excess) of recombinant human albumin (Albucult®, Novozyme). This corresponded to a final concentration of albumin binding polypeptide of 30 μg/ml. The stimulation was done in eight-plicates, i.e. the same albumin binding polypeptide were added to eight wells in identical amounts and under the same conditions. In positive control wells, the cells were stimulated with either 30 μg/ml Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH, Calbiochem) or 30 μg/ml tetanus toxoid (TT, Statens Serum Institute). In negative control wells, only AIMV medium with or without 900 μg/ml of albumin were added.

Cell proliferation was assessed after seven days of culturing using Alexa Fluor 488 Click-iT EdU flow cytometry assay kit (Invitrogen). 1 μM/well of EdU incorporation marker was added on day six. On day seven, cells were washed, dissociated from the plate, washed again and stained for 30 minutes with anti-CD3-PerCP reagent (Becton Dickinson) and anti-CD4-Alexa647 reagent (Becton Dickinson). Following staining, the cells were washed, fixed (BD cellfix, BD biosciences), permeabilized (using saponin) and stained for EdU by addition of Click-iT reagent according to the manufacturer's protocol (Invitrogen). After completed staining, cells were washed again and analyzed using flow cytometry (FACSCantoII, BD Biosciences). To assess the number of proliferating cells, a fixed number of fluospheres (Invitrogen) was added to each well before analysis. All staining procedures and washes were performed directly in the 96-well plate.

The raw FACSCantoII data were gated hierarchically on CD3+ CD4+ T cells and the number of gated cells as well as their fluorescence intensity of EdU-Alexa Flour 488 incorporation marker were recorded. The mean values of the number of proliferating cells/eight-plicate of protein treated wells were compared to the positive and negative controls and the resulting ratios, described as stimulation indices (SI), were calculated. Based on the SI and the variation between replicates, threshold SI-values were set to 2.0 and 0.5 for stimulation and inhibition, respectively.

Results

The albumin binding polypeptides PEP07913, PEP07912, PEP07914 and PEP07968 were assessed for their immunogenic potential in the presence of 3-fold excess of recombinant human albumin in a target human population using an in vitro PBMC proliferation assay. Compared to the albumin control, PEP07913 induced CD3+ CD4+ T cells proliferation in 6 of 52 donors, PEP07912 in 5 of 52 donors and PEP07914 and PEP07968 in 1 of 52 donors (FIG. 4A).

The mean stimulation index (SI) for all 52 donors was not significantly different for PEP07914 and PEP07968 compared to the negative control containing recombinant human albumin (p=0.79 and 0.48 respectively, FIG. 4B). The SI for PEP07913 was significantly higher (p=0.002) whereas the SI for PEP07912 was higher but not significant (p=0.03, FIG. 4B).

As compared to buffer only, the number of responding individuals was 10 for PEP07912, 7 for PEP07912, 2 for PEP07914, 1 for PEP07968, 2 for recombinant human albumin, and 49 and 51 for the two positive controls TT and KLH, respectively (FIG. 4C). The albumin binding polypeptides were ranked according to their immunogenicity in the following order: PEP07913>PEP07912>PEP07914>PEP07968. Both PEP07914 and PEP07968 were defined as non-immunogenic. The above results thus demonstrate that the immunogenic potential of the albumin binding polypeptides of the present disclosure is low, as compared to the positive controls.

Example 6 Leptin In Vitro Functional Activity

Method. This assay measures receptor signaling following treatment of cells expressing a modified Leptin receptor. Test samples were assumed at 100% purity and re-solvated to 10× assay concentration in stimulation buffer. A total of 90 ul of each 10× compound was transferred into a deep well pp plate and serially diluted (3-fold series) with Stimulation buffer using the Perkin Elmer Multiprobe® II. The serially diluted plate was compounded into the 96-well stimulation plate containing 2.5×10^5 cell pellets of 18 hour leptin-weaned Keptin cells, as known in the art, using a MultiMek test program that transfers 200 ul of each of the diluted compounds and mixes the cells. At this time, the plate was sealed with an adhesive plate cover and placed at 37° C. for 30 minutes to allow for stimulation of pSTAT5. See e.g., Crouse et al., 1998, J. Biol. Chem., 273:18365-18373. After incubation, the stimulation plate was centrifuged to re-pellet the cells, the supernatant was removed and the remaining cell pellets were frozen at −80° C. (>30 minutes). Cell lysates were made by the addition of 100 ul of 1× lysate to the thawed cell pellets (Perkin Elmer pSTAT5 Assay kit) with rotation at ambient RT for 20 minutes. The lysates were clarified at 2500 rpm for 20 minutes and examined in the pSTAT5 Assay kit as 4 ul/well in a 384-well Proxiplat™ according to manufacturer instructions. The pSTAT5 signal (RFU) was determined using a Packard Fusion α-FP HT plate reader set to Alpha read parameters. Assay was completed in 384-well Proxiplate™ plates at 11 μl total volume with values representing mean of n=4 assay wells per dose point.

Results

As set forth in Table X4 below, engineered polypeptides described herein show functional activity in the Obeca STATS assay.

TABLE X4 In vitro Functional Activity for Leptins EC₅₀ nM (Obeca Cmpd Molecule of engineered polypeptide type STAT5 assay) 2 SEQ ID NO: 595 0.725 67 SEQ ID NO: 660 1.38 12 SEQ ID NO: 605 0.947 1 SEQ ID NO: 594 0.908 68 SEQ ID NO: 661 0.710 48 SEQ ID NO: 641 0.553 41 SEQ ID NO: 634 0.506 55 SEQ ID NO: 648 0.639 69 SEQ ID NO: 662 0.832 70 SEQ ID NO: 663 0.941 63 SEQ ID NO: 659 0.785 10 SEQ ID NO: 603 0.743 65 SEQ ID NO: 658 0.840 64 SEQ ID NO: 657 0.634 9 SEQ ID NO: 602 0.433 71 SEQ ID NO: 681 1.258

Example 7 Leptin In Vitro Functional Activity in the Presence of Albumin

In this assay, the method described in Example 6 was used, except albumin was added to the stimulation buffer to test leptin function of Compound 2 in the presence of albumin. The albumins tested included 0.1% or 1% bovine serum albumin (BSA), 1% rat serum albumin (RSA), or 1% human serum albumin (HSA). The control sample was A100 leptin with 0.1% BSA.

Results. As shown in FIG. 5, there were no effects of 1% Bovine/Rat/Human Albumin on the EC50 activity generated by Compound 2 in the Leptin Function Assay. The results are surprising and show that the therapeutic compounds are active even when bound to albumin.

Example 8 Change in Body Weight and Food Intake after Single Administration of Engineered Polypeptides

Method. Lean Sprague Dawley rats were maintained on a low fat diet during the study. Mean body weight was 315-330 grams at beginning of study. Animals were divided into six groups (n=5/group). Each group was assigned to receive one of the following: vehicle; Cmpd 2 at 13.33 nmol/kg; Cmpd 2 at 40 nmol/kg; Cmpd 2 at 120 nmol/kg. Each test animal received a single subcutaneous injection at time=0. Food intake and change in body weight (% vehicle corrected) were monitored for 7 days, and the results recorded as shown (FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B). Administered compounds: Vehicle (circle); Cmpd 2 at 13.33 nmol/kg (triangle tip down); Cmpd 2 at 40 nmol/kg (diamond); 120 nmol/kg (star).

Results. As depicted in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, administration of different doses of the engineered polypeptide resulted in reduced food intake and body weight relative to the group that received vehicle alone.

Example 9 Change in Body Weight and Food Intake after Single Administration of Engineered Polypeptides

Method. Lean Sprague Dawley rats were maintained on a low fat diet during the study. Mean body weight was 315-330 grams at beginning of study. Each test animal (n=5/group) received a single subcutaneous injection at time=0. Animals were divided into five groups. Each group was assigned to receive one of the following: vehicle or Cmpd 66. Cmpd 66 was delivered at a dose of 120 nmol/kg. Food intake and change in body weight (% vehicle corrected) were monitored for 7 days, and the results recorded as shown (FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B). Administered compounds: Vehicle (circle); Cmpd 66 at 120 nmol/kg (triangle tip down).

Results. As depicted in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, administration of the engineered polypeptide resulted in reduced food intake and body weight relative to the group that received vehicle alone.

Example 10 Change in Body Weight after Single Administration of Engineered Polypeptides

Method. Lean Sprague Dawley rats were maintained on a low fat diet during the study. Mean body weight was 315-330 g at beginning of study. Animals were divided into six groups. Each test animal (n=5/group) received a single subcutaneous injection at time=0. Each group was assigned to receive one of the following: vehicle; Cmpd 2; or Cmpd 67. Cmpd 2 and Cmpd 67 were each delivered at a dose of 120 nmol/kg. Percent change in body weight for each group was monitored for 7 days, and the results recorded as shown (FIG. 8). Administered compounds: Vehicle (circle); Cmpd 2 (triangle tip up); Cmpd 67 (diamond).

Results. As depicted in FIG. 8, each group of animals that received a single injection of one of the engineered polypeptides tested exhibited significant and sustained reduction in body weight relative to the group that received vehicle alone.

Example 11 Change in Body Weight after Single Administration of Engineered Polypeptides

Method. Lean Sprague Dawley rats were maintained on a low fat diet during the study. Mean body weight was 315-330 g at beginning of study. Animals were divided into six groups. Each test animal (n=5/group) received a single subcutaneous injection at time=0. Each group was assigned to receive one of the following: vehicle; Cmpd 2; Cmpd 12; Cmpd 1. Cmpd 2, Cmpd 12, and Cmpd 1 were each delivered at a dose of 120 nmol/kg. Percent change in body weight for each group was monitored for 7 days, and the results recorded as shown (FIG. 9). Administered compounds: Vehicle (circle); Cmpd 2 (triangle tip up); Cmpd 12 (circle); Cmpd 1 (triangle tip down).

Results. As depicted in FIG. 9, each group of animals that received a single injection of one of the engineered polypeptides tested exhibited significant and sustained reduction in body weight relative to the group that received vehicle alone.

Example 11 Affinity Determination for Albumin Binding Polypeptides

In this example, PEP07986 (SEQ ID NO:463), PEP07986-neutral linker-A500 (Compound 2, SEQ ID NO:595), and PEP07986-negative linker-A500 (Compound 12, SEQ ID NO:605) were characterized for affinity to different variants of albumin.

Material and Methods

All studies were conducted on a BioRad ProteOn XPR36 system using a GLC sensor chip at 25 degrees C. For amine coupling the GLC chip was activated for 5 minutes using a 1:1 mixture of sulfo-NHS/EDC diluted 30-fold from the initial stock in water as shown below. Each albumin sample was diluted to 25 ug/ml in 10 mM Na Acetate pH 5.0 and injected for 5 minutes over separate sensor surfaces. Each surface was then blocked with 1 M ethanolamine pH 8.5. Each albumin was coupled at a density of 2000-5000 in resonance units.

The binding of an engineered polypeptide was tested using 5 nM as the highest concentration in a three-fold dilution series. The running buffer contained 10 mM HEPES pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 3 mM EDTA and 0.005% tween-20. All samples were tested using a 3-fold dilution series. Each concentration series was tested in duplicate. The dissociation phase for the highest concentration highest concentration was monitored for 3 hours.

Results

The relative K_(D) measured for the engineered polypeptides are presented in Table X5 below. The results show that the albumin binding polypeptides associate with serum albumins (SA) with high affinity.

TABLE X5 K_(D) of albumin binding polypeptides to albumin variants Human Monkey Dog Mouse Compound Name Rat SA SA SA SA SA Units PEP07986 6 9 84 126 160 pM PEP07986- 23 152 405 1,310 1,660 pM Neutral-A500 PEP07986- 10 270 400 1,810 1,940 pM Negative-A500

Example 12 Solubility of Engineered Polypeptides

As set forth in Table X6 following, engineered polypeptides described herein have surprisingly high solubility in neutral pH.

Solubility was measured with the following assay: 6-10 mg of purified proteins were concentrated at 4° C. with centrifugal filter units (Amicon Ultra-15 or Ultra-4, with 3 KDa MW cutoff; Millipore) to a volume of less than 0.5 ml. They were centrifuged at 14,000 rpm for 10 minutes at 4° C. to remove precipitates and the supernatant was transferred to a new tube. The proteins were allowed to equilibrate overnight at room temperature in the dark, then were filtered with 0.22 micron syringe filters (Milex GV; Millipore) to remove precipitates. The absorbance at OD280 was measured with a NanoDrop spectrophotometer and the concentration was calculated using the protein's theoretical molar extinction coefficient.

TABLE X6 Solubility of Engineered Polypeptides Solubility Compound pI* Net Charge at pH 7.4* in PBS, pH 7.4 (mg/mL)** A100 6.2 −2.8 2.1 A-500 6.2 −2.8 42.9 ABD2-A500 5.4 −5.8 16.8 (Cmpd 2) ABD2-HuSeal 9.4 +4.0 31 (Cmpd 64)

Example 13 Stability of Engineered Polypeptides

Engineered polypeptides described herein are physically stable. Table X7 shows the results of size exclusion chromatography (SEC) performed on A100 and ABD2-HuSeal. The engineered polypeptide show little to no self-association to dimer/oligomer, compared to A100.

TABLE X7 Stability of Engineered Polypeptides Compound Pk 1 (%) Pk 2 (%) Pk 3 (%) ABD2-HuSeal 98.78 1.22 n/a A100 88.21 11.15 0.65 Pk 1 = Monomer Pk 2 = Dimer Pk 3 = Oligomer (Trimer/Tetramer)

SEC Method:

-   Column—Tosoh TSK Gel G3000 SW×1 7.8 mm×30 cm (#08541) -   Mobile Phase—10 mM Na Phosphate, pH 7.4+238 mM NaCl+2.7 mM KCl -   Run Time—22 min -   Flow Rate—0.8 mL/min -   Column Temp—25° C. -   Sample Temp—5° C. -   Sample load—40 ug -   Detection—214 nm

Example 14 Synergy of Amylin and Leptin is Absent in High BMI Subjects

Previous studies had described amylin/leptin synergy in rats weighing 500-550 grams. After an inverse relationship of efficacy and BMI was noted we assessed the effects of the combination in very obese rats (750 grams) and in very obese rats that were food restricted to the moderately obese range (500-550 g) range prior to initiating drug treatment.

In this study one group of very obese rats (750 g) were allowed to feed ad-libitum and were treated with amylin, leptin or the combination of amylin+leptin. Although amylin was effective, there was no synergy evident with the addition of leptin. A second group of very obese rats (750 g) was calorie restricted down to the 500-550 g range in which synergy was previously demonstrated. These animals then began amylin/leptin treatment and were allowed to feed ad-libitum. FIG. 10 shows the results of the study. Rapid weight regain was evident in vehicle and leptin monotherapy-treated rats. Some weight maintenance was achieved with amylin monotherapy. No further weight maintenance was achieved with the combination. These findings suggest that the lack of synergy in “high BMI” rodents cannot simply be rescued by a diet-lead in.

Example 15 Synergy of Engineered Polypeptides with Amylin Agonists

This study shows that a once weekly administration of ABD2-HuSeal (Compound 64) is sufficient for synergy when co-adminstered with a twice weekly administration of PEG-rat amylin (Des-Lys¹-[Lys²⁶(mPEG40K)]-Rat Amylin (SEQ ID NO: 148), Compound 124). FIG. 11 shows that the combination of the engineered polypeptide and PEG-rat amylin resulted in more weight loss than the results observed for each agent alone. ABD2-HuSeal was administered at 120 nmol/kg and PEG-amylin was administered at 125 nmol/kg to male DIO HSD rats of 500 g average weight.

Example 16 Anti-Diabetic Effects of Engineered Polypeptides in Non-Obese, Type 1 Diabetic Mice

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vivo effects of engineered polypeptides on key diabetic and metabolic endpoints in a high-dose STZ mouse model of Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). C57 BL/6 male mice were given a single interperitoneal injection of STZ at 200 mg/kg to induce Type 1 diabetes. Compounds were administered twice a week subcutaneously for two weeks. Measured endpoints included HbA1c levels, glucose levels, body weight, and food intake.

FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B show that Compound 2 produced a dose-related decrease in blood glucose in STZ-induced diabetic mice. It also produced a dose-related decrease in Hemoglobin A1c levels, as shown in FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B, and reduced body weight and cumulative food intake, as shown in FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B.

In order to ensure that the glucose lowering effects of therapy are not due to insulin effects, another study was conducted to combine the leptin therapy with a low dose of insulin. Compound 2 was administered with or without the addition of a 0.05 U/day dose of insulin in a high-dose STZ mouse model of T1DM. C57 BL/6 male mice were given a single interperitoneal injection of STZ at 175 mg/kg to induce Type 1 diabetes. Compounds were administered twice a week subcutaneously at 60 nmol/kg for two weeks. Measured endpoints included HbA1c levels, glucose levels, body weight, and food intake.

FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B show a glucose lowering effect potentiated with low dose of insulin in an additive fashion for Compound 2. It also reduced Hemoglobin A1c levels, as shown in FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B, and reduced body weight and cumulative food intake, as shown in FIG. 17A and FIG. 17B.

VIII. Embodiments

Additional embodiments of the engineered polypeptides, method of use thereof, and pharmaceuticals compositions described herein follow:

Embodiment 1. An engineered polypeptide comprising: an albumin binding domain polypeptide (ABD) and a first peptide hormone domain (HD1) selected from a leptin, a leptin analog or an active fragment thereof,

wherein said ABD comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the amino acid sequence comprising:

(i) (SEQ ID NO: 300) LA X3 AK X6 X7 AN X10 ELD X14 YGVSDF YKRLI X26 KAKT VEGVEALK X39 X40 IL X43 X44 LP

-   wherein independently of each other -   X3 is selected from E, S, Q and C; -   X6 is selected from E, S and C; -   X7 is selected from A and S; -   X10 is selected from A, S and R; -   X14 is selected from A, S, C and K; -   X26 is selected from D and E; -   X39 is selected from D and E; -   X40 is selected from A and E; -   X43 is selected from A and K; -   X44 is selected from A, S and E; -   the leucine at position 45 is present or absent; and -   the proline at position 46 is present or absent; and

(ii) an amino acid sequence which has at least 95% identity to the sequence defined in (i);

with the proviso that X₇ is not L, E or D;

or alternatively,

with the proviso that the amino acid sequence is not defined by the following sequence, as defined in PCT Published Application No. WO 2009/016043: LAEAK X_(a) X_(b) A X_(c) X_(d) EL X_(e) KY GVSD X₅ YK X₈ X₉ I X₁₁ X₁₂ A X₁₄ TVEGV X₂₀ AL X₂₃ X₂₄ X₂₅ ILAALP (SEQ ID NO: 679)

wherein

independently of each other,

X_(a) is selected from V and E;

X_(b) is selected from L, E and D;

X_(c) is selected from N, L and I;

X_(d) is selected from R and K;

X_(e) is selected from D and K; and

X₅ is selected from Y and F;

X₈ is selected from N, R and S;

X₉ is selected from V, I, L, M, F and Y;

X₁₁ is selected from N, S, E and D;

X₁₂ is selected from R, K and N;

X₁₄ is selected from K and R;

X₂₀ is selected from D, N, Q, E, H, S, R and K;

X₂₃ is selected from K, I and T;

X₂₄ is selected from A, S, T, G, H, L and D; and

X₂₅ is selected from H, E and D.

Embodiment 2. The engineered polypeptide according to embodiment 1, further comprising a first linker (L1) covalently linked to said HD1.

Embodiment 3. The engineered polypeptide according to embodiment 1 or 2, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises said ABD as an N-terminal moiety and said HD1 as a C-terminal moiety.

Embodiment 4. The engineered polypeptide according to embodiment 1 or 2, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises said ABD as a C-terminal moiety and said HD1 as an N-terminal moiety.

Embodiment 5. The engineered polypeptide according to embodiment 3, comprising the structure: ABD-HD1.

Embodiment 6. The engineered polypeptide according to embodiment 3, comprising the structure: ABD-L1-HD1.

Embodiment 7. The engineered polypeptide according to embodiment 4, comprising the structure: HD1-ABD.

Embodiment 8. The engineered polypeptide according to embodiment 4, comprising the structure: HD1-L1-ABD.

Embodiment 9. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 8, wherein said HD1 is said a leptin, a leptin analog, a leptin active fragment, or a leptin derivative.

Embodiment 10. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 9, wherein said HD1 has at least 50% identity with an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, and SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680.

Embodiment 11. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 10, wherein said HD1 has at least 90% identity with an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, and SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680.

Embodiment 12. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 11, wherein said HD1 has at least 50% identity with a human leptin.

Embodiment 13. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 12, wherein said HD1 has at least 90% identity with a human leptin.

Embodiment 14. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 13, wherein said HD1 has at least 50% identity with SEQ ID NO:20.

Embodiment 15. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 14, wherein said HD1 has at least 90% identity with SEQ ID NO:20.

Embodiment 16. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 15, wherein said HD1 has at least 50% identity with a platypus leptin.

Embodiment 17. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 16, wherein said HD1 has at least 50% identity with a seal leptin.

Embodiment 18. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 17, wherein said HD1 has from 1 to 5 amino acid modifications selected independently from any one or combination of an insertion, deletion, addition and substitution.

Embodiment 19. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680.

Embodiment 20. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 19, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence that is selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680.

Embodiment 21. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:1.

Embodiment 22. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:2.

Embodiment 23. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:3.

Embodiment 24. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:4.

Embodiment 25. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is: SEQ ID NO:5.

Embodiment 26. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:6.

Embodiment 27. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:7.

Embodiment 28. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:8.

Embodiment 29. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:9.

Embodiment 30. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:10.

Embodiment 31. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:11.

Embodiment 32. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:12.

Embodiment 33. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:13.

Embodiment 34. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:14.

Embodiment 35. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:15.

Embodiment 36. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:16.

Embodiment 37. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:17.

Embodiment 38. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:18.

Embodiment 39. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:19.

Embodiment 40. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:20.

Embodiment 41. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:21.

Embodiment 42. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:22.

Embodiment 43. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:23.

Embodiment 44. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:24.

Embodiment 45. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:25.

Embodiment 46. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:26.

Embodiment 47. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:27.

Embodiment 48. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:28.

Embodiment 49. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:29.

Embodiment 50. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:30.

Embodiment 51. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:31.

Embodiment 52. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:32.

Embodiment 53. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:33.

Embodiment 54. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 53, wherein said ABD comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the amino acid sequence comprising:

(i) (SEQ ID NO: 300) LA X3 AK X6 X7 AN X10 ELD X14 YGVSDF YKRLI X26 KAKT VEGVEALK X39 X40 IL X43 X44 LP wherein independently of each other

-   X3 is selected from E, S, Q and C; -   X6 is selected from E, S and C; -   X7 is selected from A and S; -   X10 is selected from A, S and R; -   X14 is selected from A, S, C and K; -   X26 is selected from D and E; -   X39 is selected from D and E; -   X40 is selected from A and E; -   X43 is selected from A and K; -   X44 is selected from A, S and E; -   the leucine at position 45 is present or absent; and -   the proline at position 46 is present or absent.

Embodiment 55. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 54, wherein said ABD comprises an amino acid sequence comprising: (ii) an amino acid sequence which has at least 95% identity to the sequence defined in (i).

Embodiment 56. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 55, wherein said ABD comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the amino acid sequence comprising:

-   (i) LA X3 AK X6 X7 AN X10 ELD X14 YGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDA ILAALP     (SEQ ID NO: 678) wherein independently of each other X3 is selected     from E, S, Q and C; X6 is selected from E, S and C; X7 is selected     from A and S; X10 is selected from A, S and R; X14 is selected from     A, S, C and K; the leucine at position 45 is present or absent; and -   the proline at position 46 is present or absent; and -   (ii) an amino acid sequence which has at least 95% identity to the     sequence defined in (i), with the proviso that X₇ is not L, E or D; -   or alternatively, -   with the proviso that the amino acid sequence is not defined by the     following sequence, as defined in PCT Published Application No. WO     2009/016043: LAEAK X_(a) X_(b) A X_(c) X_(d) EL X_(e) KY GVSD X₅ YK     X₈ X₉ I X₁₁ X₁₂ A X₁₄ TVEGV X₂₀ AL X₂₃ X₂₄ X₂₅ ILAALP (SEQ ID NO:     679)     wherein

independently of each other,

X_(a) is selected from V and E;

X_(b) is selected from L, E and D;

X_(c) is selected from N, L and I;

X_(d) is selected from R and K;

X_(e) is selected from D and K; and

X₅ is selected from Y and F;

X₈ is selected from N, R and S;

X₉ is selected from V, I, L, M, F and Y;

X₁₁ is selected from N, S, E and D;

X₁₂ is selected from R, K and N;

X₁₄ is selected from K and R;

X₂₀ is selected from D, N, Q, E, H, S, R and K;

X₂₃ is selected from K, I and T;

X₂₄ is selected from A, S, T, G, H, L and D; and

X₂₅ is selected from H, E and D.

Embodiment 57. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 56, wherein said ABD comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the amino acid sequence comprising:

-   (i) LA X3 AK X6 X7 AN X10 ELD X14 YGVSDFYKRLIDKAKTVEGVEALKDA ILAALP     (SEQ ID NO: 678) wherein independently of each other X3 is selected     from E, S, Q and C; X6 is selected from E, S and C; X7 is selected     from A and S; X10 is selected from A, S and R; X14 is selected from     A, S, C and K; the leucine at position 45 is present or absent; and     the proline at position 46 is present or absent.

Embodiment 58. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 57, wherein said ABD comprises an amino acid sequence comprising: (ii) an amino acid sequence which has at least 95% identity to the sequence defined in (i).

Embodiment 59. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein X6 is E in the ABD.

Embodiment 60. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein X3 is S in the ABD.

Embodiment 61. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein X3 is E in the ABD.

Embodiment 62. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein X7 is A in the ABD.

Embodiment 63. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein X14 is S in the ABD.

Embodiment 64. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein X14 is C in the ABD.

Embodiment 65. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein X10 is A in the ABD.

Embodiment 66. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein X10 is S in the ABD.

Embodiment 67. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein proline at position 46 is absent.

Embodiment 68. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 56 to 58, wherein X26 is D in the ABD.

Embodiment 69. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 56 to 58, wherein X39 is D in the ABD.

Embodiment 70. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 56 to 58, wherein X40 is A in the ABD.

Embodiment 71. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 56 to 58, wherein X43 is A in the ABD.

Embodiment 72. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 56 to 58, wherein X44 is A in the ABD.

Embodiment 73. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the ABD binds to albumin such that the koff value of the interaction is at most 5×10⁻⁵ s⁻¹.

Embodiment 74. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the ABD binds to albumin such the koff value of the interaction is at most 5×10⁻⁶ s⁻¹.

Embodiment 75. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the ABD is selected from any one of SEQ ID NO:301-452, 455-463, and 500-593.

Embodiment 76. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the ABD is selected from an amino acid sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NO:313, SEQ ID NO:448, SEQ ID NO:463, SEQ ID NO:500, SEQ ID NO:501, and SEQ ID NO:502.

Embodiment 77. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the ABD further comprising one or more additional amino acid residues positioned at the N- and/or the C-terminal of the sequence defined in (i).

Embodiment 78. The engineered polypeptide according any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the one or more additional amino acid residues comprise a serine residue at the N-terminal of the ABD.

Embodiment 79. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the one or more additional amino acid residues comprise a glycine residue at the N-terminal of the ABD.

Embodiment 80. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the one or more additional amino acid residues comprise a cysteine residue at the N-terminal of the ABD.

Embodiment 81. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the one or more additional amino acid residues comprise a glycine residue at the C-terminal of the ABD.

Embodiment 82. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the one or more additional amino acid residues comprise a cysteine residue at the C-terminal of the ABD.

Embodiment 83. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the ABD comprises an amino acid sequence selected from any one of SEQ ID NO:445-450 and SEQ ID NO:462-463.

Embodiment 84. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the ABD comprises no more than two cysteine residues.

Embodiment 85. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the ABD comprises no more than one cysteine residue.

Embodiment 86. The engineered polypeptide according any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the HD1 is conjugated to the ABD via a thiol group of a cysteine residue at position X₁₄ of the polypeptide.

Embodiment 87. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 is a peptide of from 1 to 30 amino acids or less than 30 amino acids.

Embodiment 88. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 is selected from the 20 naturally occurring amino acids.

Embodiment 89. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 is a non-natural amino acids incorporated by chemical synthesis, post-translational chemical modification or by in vivo incorporation by recombinant expression in a host cell.

Embodiment 90. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 amino acids are selected from serine, glycine, alanine, proline, asparagine, glutamine, glutamate, aspartate, and lysine.

Embodiment 91. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 comprises a majority of amino acids that are sterically unhindered.

Embodiment 92. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 comprises one or more of the following: an acidic linker, a basic linker, and a structural motif

Embodiment 93. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 comprises polyglycine, polyalanines, poly(Gly-Ala), or poly(Gly-Ser).

Embodiment 94. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 comprises a polyglycine of (Gly)₃, (Gly)₄ (SEQ ID NO: 116), or (Gly)₅ (SEQ ID NO: 117).

Embodiment 95. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 comprises (Gly)₃Lys(Gly)₄ (SEQ ID NO: 118); (Gly)₃AsnGlySer(Gly)₂ (SEQ ID NO: 119); (Gly)₃Cys(Gly)₄ (SEQ ID NO: 120); and GlyProAsnGlyGly (SEQ ID NO: 121).

Embodiment 96. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 comprises a combination of Gly and Ala.

Embodiment 97. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 comprises a combination of Gly and Ser.

Embodiment 98. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 comprises a combination of Gly and Glu.

Embodiment 99. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 comprises a combination of Gly and Lys.

Embodiment 100. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of: [Gly-Ser]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 122), [Gly-Gly-Ser]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 123), [Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 124) and [Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 125); where n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10.

Embodiment 101. The engineered polypeptide according any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of: [Gly-Glu]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 126); [Gly-Gly-Glu]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 127); [Gly-Gly-Gly-Glu]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 128); [Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Glu]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 129), [Gly-Asp]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 130); [Gly-Gly-Asp]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 131); [Gly-Gly-Gly-Asp]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 132); [Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Asp]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 133) where n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Embodiment 102. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of: [Gly-Glu]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 126); [Gly-Gly-Glu]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 127); [Gly-Gly-Gly-Glu]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 128); [Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Glu]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 129), [Gly-Asp]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 130); [Gly-Gly-Asp]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 131); [Gly-Gly-Gly-Asp]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 132); [Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Asp]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 133) where n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Embodiment 103. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of: [Gly-Lys]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 134); [Gly-Gly-Lys]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 135); [Gly-Gly-Gly-Lys]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 136); [Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Lys]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 137), [Gly-Arg]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 138); [Gly-Gly-Arg]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 139); [Gly-Gly-Gly-Arg]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 140); [Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Arg]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 141) where n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Embodiment 104. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of: [Glu-Ala-Ala-Ala-Lys]_(n) (SEQ ID NO: 142), where n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Embodiment 105. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of: [Gly-Gly-Glu]₆ (SEQ ID NO: 153) [Gly-Gly-Lys]₆ (SEQ ID NO: 154). [Glu-Ala-Ala-Ala-Lys]₃ (SEQ ID NO: 155), [Glu-Ala-Ala-Ala-Lys]₄ (SEQ ID NO: 156), or [Glu-Ala-Ala-Ala-Lys]₅ (SEQ ID NO: 157).

Embodiment 106. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 comprises an N-terminal TG dipeptide.

Embodiment 107. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 comprises a C-terminal AS dipeptide.

Embodiment 108. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 comprises an N-terminal TG dipeptide and a C-terminal AS dipeptide.

Embodiment 109. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said linker L1 comprises an amino acids sequence that is selected from the group consisting of TG-(GGGS)₁ (SEQ ID NO: 215), TG-(GGGS)₂ (SEQ ID NO: 216), TG-(GGGS)₃ (SEQ ID NO: 217), TG-(GGGS)₄ (SEQ ID NO: 218), TG-(GGGS)₅ (SEQ ID NO: 219), (GGGS)₁-AS (SEQ ID NO: 220), (GGGS)₂-AS (SEQ ID NO: 221), (GGGS)₃-AS (SEQ ID NO: 222), (GGGS)₄-AS (SEQ ID NO: 223), (GGGS)₅-AS (SEQ ID NO: 224), TG-(GGGS)1-AS (SEQ ID NO: 225), TG-(GGGS)₂-AS (SEQ ID NO: 226), TG-(GGGS)₃-AS (SEQ ID NO: 227), TG-(GGGS)₄-AS (SEQ ID NO: 228), and TG-(GGGS)₅-AS (SEQ ID NO: 229).

Embodiment 110. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said TG dipeptide TG and/or said dipeptide AS are absent or are replaced by a pair of amino acids selected from T, A, S, and G.

Embodiment 111. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said polypeptide further comprises one or more additional linkers.

Embodiment 112. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 594 to 663 and 681.

Embodiment 113. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:594.

Embodiment 114. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:595.

Embodiment 115. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:596.

Embodiment 116. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:597.

Embodiment 117. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:598.

Embodiment 118. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:599.

Embodiment 119. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:600.

Embodiment 120. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:601.

Embodiment 121. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:602.

Embodiment 122. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:603.

Embodiment 123. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:604.

Embodiment 124. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:605.

Embodiment 125. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:606.

Embodiment 126. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:607.

Embodiment 127. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:608.

Embodiment 128. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:609.

Embodiment 129. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:610.

Embodiment 130. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:611.

Embodiment 131. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:612.

Embodiment 132. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:613.

Embodiment 133. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:614.

Embodiment 134. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:615.

Embodiment 135. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:616.

Embodiment 136. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:617.

Embodiment 137. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:618.

Embodiment 138. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:619.

Embodiment 139. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:620.

Embodiment 140. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:621.

Embodiment 141. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:622.

Embodiment 142. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:623.

Embodiment 143. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:624.

Embodiment 144. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:625.

Embodiment 145. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:626.

Embodiment 146. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:627.

Embodiment 147. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:628.

Embodiment 148. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:629.

Embodiment 149. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:630.

Embodiment 150. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:631.

Embodiment 151. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:632.

Embodiment 152. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:633.

Embodiment 153. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:634.

Embodiment 154. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:635.

Embodiment 155. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:636.

Embodiment 156. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:637.

Embodiment 157. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:638.

Embodiment 158. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:639.

Embodiment 159. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:640.

Embodiment 160. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:641.

Embodiment 161. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:642.

Embodiment 162. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:643.

Embodiment 163. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:644.

Embodiment 164. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:645.

Embodiment 165. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:646.

Embodiment 166. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:647.

Embodiment 167. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:648.

Embodiment 168. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:649.

Embodiment 169. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:650.

Embodiment 170. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:651.

Embodiment 171. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:652.

Embodiment 172. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:653.

Embodiment 173. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:654.

Embodiment 174. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:655.

Embodiment 175. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:656.

Embodiment 176. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:657.

Embodiment 177. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:658.

Embodiment 178. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:659.

Embodiment 179. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:660.

Embodiment 180. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:661.

Embodiment 181. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:662.

Embodiment 182. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:663.

Embodiment 183. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 112, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:681.

Embodiment 184. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 183, having affinity for serum albumin with a dissociation constant less than about 10⁻⁶ mol/L.

Embodiment 185. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 184, having affinity for serum albumin with a dissociation constant less than about 10⁻⁹ mol/L.

Embodiment 186. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 185, having affinity for serum albumin with a dissociation constant less than about 10⁻¹² mol/L.

Embodiment 187. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 186, wherein the polypeptide has a duration of action of at least 1 day.

Embodiment 188. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 187, wherein the polypeptide has a duration of action of at least 3 days.

Embodiment 189. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 188, wherein the polypeptide has a duration of action of at least 5 days.

Embodiment 190. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 189, wherein the polypeptide has a duration of action of at least 5 days in a human subject.

Embodiment 191. A method for treating a disease or disorder in a subject, comprising administering a engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 190 to a subject in need thereof in an amount effective to treat said disease or disorder.

Embodiment 192. The method according to embodiment 191, wherein said disease or disorder is disease or disorder can be lipodystrophy, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, overweight, obesity, hypothalamic amenorrhea, Alzheimer's disease, leptin deficiency, fatty liver disease, diabetes (including type I and type II), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), metabolic syndrome X and Huntington's Disease.

Embodiment 193. The method according to embodiment 191 or embodiment 192, wherein said disease or disorder is lipodystrophy, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, overweight, obesity, hypothalamic amenorrhea, Alzheimer's disease, leptin deficiency, fatty liver disease or diabetes.

Embodiment 194. The method according to any one of embodiments 191 to 193, wherein said disease or disorder is type I diabetes or type II diabetes.

Embodiment 195. The method according to any one of embodiments 191 to 193, wherein said disease or disorder is obesity.

Embodiment 196. The method according to any one of embodiments 191 to 193, wherein said disease or disorder is lipodystrophy or leptin deficiency.

Embodiment 197. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 190 and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

Embodiment 198. The pharmaceutical composition according to embodiment 197, wherein said pharmaceutical composition is an injectable pharmaceutical composition.

Embodiment 199. The pharmaceutical composition according to any one of embodiments 197 to 198, wherein said pharmaceutical composition is a sustained release or long lasting pharmaceutical composition.

Embodiment 200. The pharmaceutical composition according to any one of embodiments 197 to 199, wherein said pharmaceutical composition is a once daily pharmaceutical composition.

Embodiment 201. The pharmaceutical composition according to any one of embodiments 197 to 199, wherein said pharmaceutical composition is a once weekly pharmaceutical composition.

Embodiment 202. A pharmaceutical composition of any one of embodiments 197 to 201 for treating a disease or disorder in a subject.

Embodiment 203. The pharmaceutical composition according to any one of embodiments 197 to 202 wherein the disease or disorder is lipodystrophy, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, overweight, obesity, hypothalamic amenorrhea, Alzheimer's disease, leptin deficiency, fatty liver disease, diabetes (including type I and type II), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), metabolic syndrome X and Huntington's Disease.

Embodiment 204. The pharmaceutical composition of embodiment 202 or embodiment 203 wherein said disease or disorder is lipodystrophy, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, overweight, obesity, hypothalamic amenorrhea, Alzheimer's disease, leptin deficiency, fatty liver disease or diabetes.

Embodiment 205. The method according to any one of embodiments 202 to 204, wherein said disease or disorder is type I diabetes or type II diabetes.

Embodiment 206. The method according to any one of embodiments 202 to 204, wherein said disease or disorder is obesity.

Embodiment 207. The method according to any one of embodiments 202 to 204, wherein said disease or disorder is lipodystrophy or leptin deficiency.

Embodiment 208. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18, wherein said HD1 is selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (a) the amino acid sequence 1-146 of a leptin selected from the         group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ         ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ         ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13,         SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID         NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22,         SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID         NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31,         SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID         NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID         NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID         NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID         NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, and SEQ ID NO:677; in         which a different amino acid is substituted in one or more of         the following positions and retaining the same numbering (even         in the absence of a glutaminyl residue at position 28): 4, 32,         33, 35, 50, 64, 68, 71, 74, 77, 78, 89, 97, 100, 102, 105, 106,         107, 108, 111, 118, 136, 138, 142, and 145;         -   (b) the amino acid sequence of subpart (a) in which the             glutaminyl residue at position 28 is absent;         -   (c) the amino acid sequence of subparts (a) or (b) in which             a methionyl residue is added at the N-terminus;         -   (d) a leptin consisting of a fragment of the amino acid             sequence of (a), (b), or (c) selected from the group             consisting of:             -   (i) amino acids 98-146;             -   (ii) amino acids 1-32;             -   (iii) amino acids 40-116;             -   (iv) amino acids 1-99 and 112-146;             -   (v) amino acids 1-99 and 112-146 in which one or more of                 amino acids 100-111 is placed between amino acids 99 and                 112;             -   (vi) the amino acid sequence of subpart (i) wherein one                 or more of amino acids 100, 102, 105, 106, 107, 108,                 111, 118, 136, 138, 142, and 145 is substituted with                 another amino acid;             -   (vii) the amino acid sequence of subpart (ii) wherein                 one or more of amino acids 4, 8 and 32 is substituted                 with another amino acid;             -   (viii) the amino acid sequence of subpart (iii) wherein                 one or more of amino acids 50, 53, 60, 64, 66, 67, 68,                 71, 74, 77, 78, 89, 97, 100, 102, 105, 106, 107, 108,                 111 and 112 is replaced with another amino acid;             -   (ix) the amino acid sequence of subpart (iv) wherein one                 or more of amino acids 4, 8, 32, 33, 35, 48, 50, 53, 60,                 64, 66, 67, 68, 71, 74, 77, 78, 89, 97, 112, 118, 136,                 138, 142, and 145 is replaced with another amino acid;                 and             -   (x) the amino acid sequence of subpart (v) wherein one                 or more of amino acids 4, 32, 33, 35, 50, 64, 68, 71,                 74, 77, 78, 89, 97, 100, 102, 105, 106, 107, 108, 111,                 118, 136, 138, 142, and 145 is replaced with another                 amino acid;             -   (xi) the amino acid sequence of any of subparts (i)-(x)                 wherein a methionine has been added at the N-terminus;         -   (e) the amino acid sequence of any of subparts (a)             through (d) wherein said amino acid sequence is attached to             a chemical moiety;         -   (f) the amino acid sequence of subpart (e) wherein said             chemical moiety is a water soluble polymer moiety;         -   (g) the amino acid sequence of subpart (f) wherein said             water soluble polymer moiety is selected from the group             consisting of: polyethylene glycol, an ethylene             glycol/propylene glycol copolymer, a carboxymethylcellulose,             a dextran, a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyvinyl pyrolidone, a             poly-1,3-dioxolane, a poly-1,3,6-trioxane, an             ethylene/maleic anhydride copolymer, a polyaminoacid             homopolymer, a polyaminoacid random copolymer, an albumin,             an Fc protein, a poly(n-vinyl pyrolidone)polyethylene             glycol, a propylene glycol homopolymer, a polypropylene             oxide/ethylene oxide copolymer, a polyoxyethylated polyol, a             polyvinyl alcohol, a polyethylene glycol propionaldehyde, a             succinate, a styrene, a hydroxyethyl starch and;         -   (h) the amino acid sequence of subpart (g) wherein said             water soluble polymer moiety is a polyethylene glycol; and         -   (i) the amino acid sequence of subpart (g) wherein said             water soluble polymer is a polyamino acid-selected from the             group consisting of: an albumin, an antibody, an Fc protein,             and a polylysine moiety.

Embodiment 209. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 208, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein one or more amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 210. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein one amino acid substitution has been made.

Embodiment 211. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein two amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 212. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein three amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 213. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein four amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 214. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein five amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 215. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein six amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 216. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein seven amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 217. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein eight amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 218. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein nine amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 219. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein ten amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 220. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein 11 amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 221. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein 12 amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 222. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein 13 amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 223. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein 14 amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 224. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein 15 amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 225. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein 16 amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 226. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein 17 amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 227. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein 18 amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 228. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein 19 amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 229. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein 20 amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 230. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 18 and 209, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680; wherein 21 amino acid substitutions have been made.

Embodiment 231. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:143.

Embodiment 232. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:144.

Embodiment 233. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:145.

Embodiment 234. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:146.

Embodiment 235. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:664.

Embodiment 236. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:665.

Embodiment 237. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:666.

Embodiment 238. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:667.

Embodiment 239. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:668.

Embodiment 240. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments s 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:669.

Embodiment 241. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:670.

Embodiment 242. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:671.

Embodiment 243. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:672.

Embodiment 244. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:673.

Embodiment 245. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:674.

Embodiment 246. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:675.

Embodiment 247. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:676.

Embodiment 248. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:677.

Embodiment 249. The engineered polypeptide according to any one of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said HD1 is SEQ ID NO:680.

While the foregoing description discloses the present invention, with examples provided for the purpose of illustration, it will be understood that the practice of the present invention encompasses all of the usual variations, adaptations, or modifications as being within the scope of the claimed invention. Therefore, descriptions and examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is delineated by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An engineered polypeptide comprising: an albumin binding domain (ABD) polypeptide and a first peptide hormone domain (HD1) comprising a leptin, a leptin analog or an active fragment thereof, wherein said ABD comprises at least 95% indentity to SEQ ID:300, with the proviso that X₇ is not L, E or D; or alternatively, with the proviso that the amino acid sequence is not (SEQ ID NO:679).
 2. The engineered polypeptide according to claim 1, further comprising a first linker (L1) covalently linked to said HD1.
 3. The engineered polypeptide according to claim 1, wherein said HD1 comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:144, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:664, SEQ ID NO:665, SEQ ID NO:666, SEQ ID NO:667, SEQ ID NO:668, SEQ ID NO:669, SEQ ID NO:670, SEQ ID NO:671, SEQ ID NO:672, SEQ ID NO:673, SEQ ID NO:674, SEQ ID NO:675, SEQ ID NO:676, SEQ ID NO:677, and SEQ ID NO:680.
 4. The engineered polypeptide according to claim 1, wherein the ABD polypeptide is selected from any one of SEQ ID NO:301-452, 455-463, and 500-593.
 5. The engineered polypeptide according to claim 1, wherein said engineered polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 594 to 663 and
 681. 6. The engineered polypeptide according to claim 1, having affinity for serum albumin with a dissociation constant less than about 10⁻⁶ mol/L.
 7. A method for treating a disease or disorder in a subject, comprising administering an a engineered polypeptide according to claim 1 to a subject in need thereof in an amount effective to treat said disease or disorder.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said disease or disorder is lipodystrophy, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, overweight, obesity, hypothalamic amenorrhea, Alzheimer's disease, leptin deficiency, fatty liver disease, diabetes, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), metabolic syndrome X or Huntington's Disease.
 9. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an engineered polypeptide according to claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
 10. An engineered polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 595. 11. A polynucleotide encoding an engineered polypeptide according to claim
 1. 12. An expression vector comprising a polynucleotide according to claim
 11. 13. A host cell comprising an expression vector according to claim
 12. 14. A method for preparing the engineered polypeptide of claim 1, the method comprising expressing a polynucleotide encoding the engineered polypeptide or synthesizing the polypeptide by non-biological peptide synthesis. 